‘Things are going to get a whole lot worse’: London region faces highest unemployment rate in Canada, 1,800 jobs lost in April

London’s unemployment rate for April increased to 9.2 per cent, tied for the highest in Canada. CTV’s Gerry Dewan with how this could affect the municipal elect

The London region has recorded the highest unemployment rate among Canada’s large cities for April, reaching 9.2 per cent, according to the latest figures released by Statistics Canada.

The month saw a loss of 1,800 jobs in the area, which includes London, St. Thomas and Strathroy.

The statistics paint a challenging economic picture, with experts warning of further declines.

“Things are going to get a whole lot worse,” observed Mahmood Nanji, a policy fellow at the Ivey School of Business in London. “There is more downside economic risk than there is upside.”

Nanji attributes the region’s particular vulnerability to its continued reliance on manufacturing and escalating global economic uncertainty.

“Trade uncertainty is certainly a big part of it. I think the geopolitical uncertainty is a big part of it. The war in Iran and the contribution of price increases is still to be felt,” he explained.

This marks the fifth consecutive month the region’s jobless rate has climbed. In April, the provincial unemployment rate remained largely unchanged at 7.5 per cent, while the national rate held steady at 6.9 per cent. Statistics Canada identified losses in manufacturing and construction as the primary drivers of the local job decline.

The region’s unemployment rate has trended upwards throughout 2026, according to Statistics Canada:

• January: 8.2 per cent
• February: 8.8 per cent
• March: 9.1 per cent
• April: 9.2 per cent

Adding to the complexity, Statistics Canada noted that more individuals entered the job market in April, increasing the pool of job seekers.

The release of these employment figures comes as Ontario municipalities gear up for fall elections. London’s incumbent mayor, Josh Morgan, emphasizes the need for support from higher levels of government.

“There’s not a lot that municipalities individually can do, but we are advocating collectively to our federal, provincial partners and other organizations to try to help,” Morgan said.

He acknowledged the recent downturn, noting that while the region created approximately 45,000 jobs over the past several years, 13,000 have been lost this year.

“We’ve had a good run. But the economic conditions out there are putting us in a position where we’re seeing this pullback,” he explained.

Morgan also highlighted the broader economic challenges, sharing insights from a recent meeting of Canadian and U.S. mayors involved in the Great Lakes Initiative.

“We’re all feeling this on both sides of the border for those who are struggling with manufacturing jobs. The best thing we could possibly do, and one of the injections we could do is figure out this trade dispute,” he said.

He commended the federal government for its initial actions, including a $1.5 billion fund for targeted industries and $500 million for regional development agencies.

Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Kirsten Krose, who launched her campaign earlier this week along with Lawrence-Zachary Howe and John Feher, believe the city itself can take steps to improve job prospects.

“We need to make our city attractive. We need traffic that moves. We need a city that feels safe. We need good services for the value we’re paying, and we need to respect the taxpayer in order for it to be attractive for that outside investment,” Krose stated.

Despite the current economic headwinds, long-term projections from the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) suggest a significant demand for workers, forecasting a need for 40,000 new employees by 2031 to accommodate retirements and growth in sectors like IT, health, and advanced manufacturing.

An estimated 318,300 individuals are currently employed in the region.