There are more signs the Canadian and the local economy are returning to pre-pandemic performance.
The national economy added another 154,000 net jobs in November, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.7 percentage points to 6 per cent. That is just 0.3 per cent above what it was in February 2020 before the pandemic started.
For women, the November Labour Force Survey showed more positive news. Women aged 25-to-54 enjoyed record-high employment. Statistics Canada said 80.7 per cent of women had a job, the highest percentage since 1976 and higher than February 2020.
Men in that age group also saw gains. Nearly all of the 48,000 new positions they filled were full-time.
Total hours worked rose 0.7 percentage points, returning to pre-pandemic levels, and the number of Canadians considered long-term unemployed fell for the first time since April, tumbling 16.2 per cent. Long-term unemployment is a stretch of joblessness that lasts for 27 weeks or longer.
In Ontario, the provincial economy added 68,000 net positions. Healthcare, social assistance, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and finance lead the way. Unemployment across the province fell 0.6 percentage points last month to 6.4 per cent, the lowest level since the pandemic struck.
Windsor's economy performed better last month than it did in February 2020. The rate in November was 8.1 per cent, down from 9.2 per cent the month before and 0.2 percentage points lower than February 2020.
Further reopening at Caesars Windsor likely helped the local economy add another 7,100 jobs.
The Labour Participation Rate increased to 62.6 per cent, up from 60.8 per cent in October.
No longer does Windsor have the highest jobless rate in Canada. That dubious distinction went to Saint John, New Brunswick, which posted a rate of 8.5 per cent.
Statistics Canada gathered data for the latest Labour Market Survey between November 7 and November 13.