Highest Otawa Jobless Rate in four years

The jobless rate hits to 6.1% in Ottawa-Gatineau in June 2009, the first time in nealry four years that it has been that high. Statistics Canada said that the increase from 5.9 per cent in May was driven by people who have lost jobs over the last seven months. Despite a small increase in jobs, up 1,400 in June and the first gain since November, it wasn’t enough to make up for the 2,700 people who started searching for work.

The national capital region has lost 26,900 jobs since November 2008, first in the technology sector and then in the broader retail economy as consumer conifdence sank. The capital region last had an unemployment rate above 6.0 per cent in October 2005. Statistics Canada said that the unemployment rate in Ottawa in June was 6.1 per cent and 5.4 per cent in Gatineau.