Unemployment rises a bit in Montreal
The employment rate in the Montreal region reached its highest level on record in November, according to Statistics Canada data released on Friday. The employment rate, the percentage of the population over 15 that is employed, was at 64.2 per cent during the month, up from 63 per cent in October as the number of people with jobs in the region rose by 44,500. That’s the highest employment rate recorded in the Montreal region since comparable statistics started being tracked in 2001. The employment rate was up one percentage point from 63.2 per cent in November 2017. Despite the increase in employment, the unemployment rate, which tracks the percentage of the population that is actively looking for work but unable to find it, also rose slightly, to six per cent, up from 5.6 per cent in October. It was at the same level in November 2017. The increase in both employment and unemployment came as a result of growth in the workforce. The number of people working or actively looking for work in the Montreal region increased by 57,800, pushing the participation rate up from 66.7 per cent in October to 68.3 per cent in November. That was also an increase from 67.2 per cent in November 2017. This is the eighth time in nine months that Montreal has had a lower unemployment rate than Toronto — though not by much. There, the unemployment rate was 6.1 per cent. The participation and employment rates were higher in Montreal than in Toronto. There, the participation rate was 65.8 per cent, while the employment rate was 61.8 per cent. Across Quebec, the unemployment rate was up slightly, rising from 5.2 per cent in October to 5.4 per cent in November. The number of jobs in the province also increased, rising by 26,000 as declines in other parts of the province offset the gains in Montreal. Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Quebec City and Trois-Rivières all saw declines in employment and labour force.