File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / Bialasiewicz.File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / Bialasiewicz.
Windsor

Jobless rate hits another low nationally

Canada's jobless rate has not been this low since Statistics Canada started collecting comparable data in 1976.

In its latest report, the agency said the national unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points in November from October to 5.6 per cent. Employment rose by 94,000 jobs, mostly in full-time positions.

Over the past year, employment across the country has grown by 1.2 per cent, or 219,000 jobs since November 2017, while total hours worked has also increased by 2.1 per cent.

In Ontario, the number of jobs grew by 20,000 holding the unemployment rate steady at 5.6 per cent. The province has also added 66,000 jobs over the past year.

Employment in the professional, scientific and technical sectors has grown in Ontario and Quebec, while in Ontario the number of jobs also grew in healthcare and social assistance. Alberta also saw increases in those sectors.

Windsor's jobless rate fell 0.9 per cent to 6 per cent between October and November, while the labour participation rate rose to 56.4 per cent, an increase of a full percentage point.

In London, the unemployment rate also fell to 4.8 per cent, down 0.1 points. However, the labour participation rate fell 0.8 percentage points to 60.3 per cent.

For the first time, the Labour Force Survey also tracked jobs related to cannabis. The number of marijuana-related positions is up 266 per cent from this time last year to 10,400, mostly in Ontario which has 5,700 people employed in the growth of cannabis.

Workers in that industry also make more than the national average with the average hourly rate being $29.58.

Read More Local Stories