Ottawa’s unemployment rate increases to 6.9% in June

Statistics Canada's offices in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Ottawa’s unemployment rate increased to its highest level in six months in June as more people were looking for work.

Statistics Canada says Ottawa’s unemployment rate increased to 6.9 per cent in June from 6.1 per cent in May.

Ottawa’s economy added 2,000 new jobs last month, but 8,000 people entered the labour force last month and there was an increase in the number of unemployed residents in Ottawa.

The Ottawa unemployment rate was 7.0 in January and 7.3 per cent in October, November and December.

The national unemployment rate increased to 6.5 per cent in June, as employers added 18,000 jobs last month.

Across Canada, StatsCan said youth aged 15 to 24 added 33,000 jobs in June, mostly in part-time work. Workers aged 25 to 54 saw similar gains while older members of the labour market faced losses.

Gatineau’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 per cent in June from 6.6 per cent in May. Gatineau’s economy lost 1,900 jobs last month.

In Kingston, the unemployment rate dropped from 6.1 per cent in May to 5.8 per cent in June, despite a loss of 500 jobs. StatsCan reported fewer people were in the labour force in Kingston last month.

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