There was a small increase in the London-area unemployment rate last month.
According to figures released Friday by Statistics Canada, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate for the London Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in January was 5.7 per cent, up from December's 5.5 per cent.
The London CMA includes London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, and other surrounding communities.
Statistics Canada says there was a net loss of about 1,500 jobs in the area last month.
The Labour Force, which is the number of people 15 and older who are either working or looking for work, shrank to 330,900 in January, down from 331,900 in December. The Labour Participation Rate, which measures the percentage of the population that is included in the Labour Force, fell to 66.3 per cent from December's 66.8 per cent.
Nationally, the economy added 37,000 new jobs. It was enough to lower the unemployment rate by a tenth-of-a-percentage point to 5.7 per cent, the first decline in more than a year.
Employment in wholesale and retail trade increased by 31,000 positions and by 28,000 in finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing. That was offset by the loss of 30,000 positions in accommodation and food services.
Population growth outpaced job growth, as another 126,000 people moved to Canada. That put lowered the participation rate by 0.1 per cent and the employment rate by as much.
Ontario's jobless rate fell to 6.2 per cent, down slightly from December as the provincial economy added 24,000 net positions, the most in Canada.
Hourly wages grew another 5.3 per cent from January 2023, or by $1.74 to $34.75. Wages grew faster for women, by 6.2 per cent to $32.38. Pay for men grew by 4.4 per cent to $37.06.
Canadians also worked more. Total hours increased by 1.1 per cent over the past year, and by 0.6 per cent from December.
The January survey was conducted between January 14 and January 20.
February's survey is scheduled between February 11 and February 17, and will be released on March 8.
