Despite the creation of 1,000 new jobs, the unemployment rate in the London area went up in May.
According to figures released by Statistics Canada, the jobless rate for the London Census Metropolitan Area (which includes London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, and other surrounding communities) was 9.7 percent last month, up from 8.2 per cent in April. It was the third straight month the rate went up.
The number of people working in the London CMA was 278,900 in May. The labour participation rate, which measures the percentage of the working age population that is either working or actively looking for work, was 66.2 percent.
Ontario's jobless rate climbed to 9.3 per cent in May from 9.0 per cent in April. Nationally, 68,000 jobs were lost and the unemployment rate climbed to 8.2 per cent from 8.1 per cent in April.
Statistics Canada also reported that more people left the workforce in May, suggesting that some people's discouragement led to them giving up looking for a job.
