THE LONDON REGION unemployment rate dropped in December to 5.7 per cent, down from 6.4 per cent in November according to figures released Friday by Statistics Canada.
December’s showing represents the sixth consecutive month of employment gains for London and the surrounding area, which includes St. Thomas, Strathroy and portions of Elgin and Middlesex Counties. However, the numbers reflect data collected before January’s return to a modified step two of the Roadmap to Reopen.
Story Continues Below
The total number of people employed rose to more than 291,000 from roughly 288,000 in November and the total labour force, which includes those looking for work, climbed by about 2,000 workers to nearly 310,000.
As a comparison, Ontario’s jobless rate moved down to 6.0 per cent in December, down from 6.4 in November.
Story Continues Below
Nationally, the unemployment rate dipped slightly to 5.9 per cent, down from 6.0 per cent the previous month. It is the lowest unemployment rate since February 2020, prior to the pandemic, when it stood at 5.7 per cent.
Libro Credit Union invests in the revitalization of Old East Village
No one wants to say it, but we’re probably in a small business recession
Price check: A sampling of high- and low-priced real estate listings around town this week
A summary of recent commercial real estate activity in London
93 The Promenade: $739,900 for a to-be-built two storey home in Port Stanley’s Kokomo Beach Club
A growing number of companies are launching men’s groups with surprisingly positive outcomes