Third wave takes a bite out of jobs

The London-area jobless rate spikes as more people seek work: Statistics Canada

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

ACCORDING TO FRIDAY’S jobs report from Statistics Canada, the London-area unemployment rate climbed for the second straight month, despite adding 3,600 new jobs.

Unemployment in the London region now sits at 8.2 per cent, up from 7 per cent in March.

The increase is the result of an increase in the number of people looking for jobs as the London region saw its labour force (people working and looking for work) jump by about 7,700 people.

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The effects of the pandemic on the local economy can be seen in the numbers, but the full impact of third wave and Ontario’s current stay-at-home order isn’t clear yet, as Statistics Canada reports municipal figures using a three-month moving average.

Provincially, Ontario lost approximately 153,000 jobs in April, and  nationally the economy lost roughly 207,000, due to renewed public health restrictions and closed businesses, Statistics Canada said.

The national unemployment rate mirrors London’s at 8.1 per cent, up from 7.5 per cent in March.