While unemployment rates for the whole of Canada and the Province of Ontario remained stable and stagnant throughout the months of November and December last year, things in Oshawa were a bit different to say the least.

Records show that unemployment increased in the city during these months.

According to a report by Statistics Canada, the numbers indicate that the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area’s unemployment rate for December rose by as much as 9.8 percent, that’s more than 500 percent from last year’s low rate of 0.6 percent. The Metropolitan Area includes the town of Whitby and the municipality of Clarington Clarington.

That 9.3 percent translates to over 19,400 residents who are out of jobs in the region.

Canada’s national employment rate hovered at 8.5 percent in November and December, while Ontario’s was at 9.3 percent on both months.

All in all, 2009 was a bad year for employment in Canada, with over 22,000 Canadians losing their jobs last year

Yes, it’s a grim picture indeed. But with signs of the economy getting back on its feet and plans of numerous projects in the Oshawa vicinity which are sure to generate jobs and revenue for the city, things look to a bit brighter in the future.
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