The London area unemployment rate rose slightly for a third consecutive month.
Figures released by Statistics Canada on Friday show the jobless rate for the London Census Metropolitan Area, which includes St. Thomas, Strathroy, and other surrounding communities, increased to 6.5 per cent in September, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month.
Despite the minor jump, the number of people working and looking for work across the region went up. Statistics Canada said 2,900 new jobs were added last month. That is on top of the 4,100 jobs added in the London area in August.
"Still much work to be done, and that work is continuing, but it's certainly encouraging to see London businesses and entrepreneurs have added 7,000 jobs over last two months," London Mayor Ed Holder tweeted shortly after the jobless numbers were released.
Nationally, the unemployment rate dipped to 5.5 per cent in September, from 5.7 per cent the month prior. Many of the 54,000 jobs created across the country were in the health care sector, according to Statistics Canada.