File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / reichFile photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / reich
London

Local jobless rate climbs as national rate hits record low

For a second straight month, the jobless rate in the London area has gone up.

At the same time, the national unemployment rate has hit a record low.

Figures released Friday by Statistics Canada show the London Census Metropolitan Area (which includes London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, and other surrounding communities) lost 1,600 jobs in June, leading to an unemployment rate of 5.8 per cent.

It was 5.2 per cent in May.

Just under 295,000 people in the region were working in June.

Nationally, the jobless rate fell to its lowest level on record. The unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent in June. But it wasn't because more people were working. Statistics Canada says there were 43,000 fewer people with jobs in June, while fewer people were looking for work.

Ontario's jobless rate fell to 5.1 per cent in June, down from 5.5 per cent in May.

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