The capital region’s jobless rate dropped to 6.4% in September compared to 6.5% in August, Statistics Canada said, APP reported. The improvement came despite a net decline of 2,100 jobs. That’s because the region’s labor force, which includes people looking for work, shrank an even faster by 2,800. It’s been the pattern for the past three months. The number of people with jobs—718,100 in September—is about the same as it was in June. Yet the jobless rate has tumbled from 6.9% because the labor force (767,200) is down 4,400 over the same period. These numbers have been adjusted for seasonal influences. StatCan reported there were 129,900 federal government employees in September, up 1,200 from August. It was also a gain of 1,600 from a year earlier when the Conservatives were enjoying their last month in power. Employment in the region declined 6,800 in September on an unadjusted basis compared to August for a new total of 721,400. The big losers by sector were health and retailing (down 3,300 each) and education (down 2,300).
