A big jump in the number of people with jobs helped push the local unemployment rate down more than half of a percentage point in January.
According to figures released Friday by Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate in the London-St. Thomas Census Metropolitan Area was 5 per cent in January, down from 5.6 per cent in December.
The London CMA includes London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, and other surrounding communities.
The number of people working increased by 3,700 in January, as the area saw its sixth straight month of job growth. January also saw a decrease of 1,700 in the number of people who were unemployed. The area's labour force participation rate, long an area of concern, saw an increase to 61.5 percent, from 61.1 per cent in December.
The employment rate, which measures the percentage of people aged 15 and over who are employed, went up to 58.4 percent. It was 57.7 per cent in December.
Nationally, the economy added 34,500 net jobs in January, bringing the jobless rate down a tenth of a point to 5.5 per cent. According to Statistics Canada, a gain of 36,000 full time jobs was offset slightly by a decrease of 1,200 part time jobs.