Greater Sudbury's unemployment rate was 5.9 per cent in November, down 0.3 per cent compared to October, StatsCan reported in its monthly labour force survey.
The drop was led by decline in the labour force – people in the city actively looking for work – of about 600 compared to October, when the labour force totalled 88,900.
In total, an estimated 83,100 people had jobs in November, compared to 83,400 in October, StatsCan said. Year over year, employment in the city is up by about 400 jobs compared to November 2018.
In Ontario, employment increased by 15,400, but the jobless rate was unchanged at 5.4 per cent. Since June 2018, employment in Ontario has risen by 271,600.
Nationally, The Canadian economy posted its biggest monthly job loss since the financial crisis in November, pushing the unemployment rate higher and raising the possibility the Bank of Canada may cut interest rates next year.
The economy lost 71,200 jobs last month, StatsCan said, and the unemployment rate rose four-tenths of a percentage point to 5.9 per cent to its highest point since August 2018 when it hit six per cent.
Economists on average had expected a gain of 10,000 jobs and the unemployment rate to hold steady at 5.5 per cent.
The jobs report followed a decision by the Bank of Canada earlier this week to keep its key interest rate on hold at 1.75 per cent, where it has been set for more than a year.
Many of the Bank of Canada's international peers have moved to cut rates and loosen monetary policy in response to weakness in the global economy. The U.S. Federal Reserve has cut its rate three times this year.
In making its decision this week, the central bank said the Canadian economy has remained resilient despite the global uncertainty caused by the trade war between the United States and China.
The loss in jobs came as both full-time and part-time employment moved lower. The number of full-time jobs fell by 38,400, while part-time employment fell 32,800.
The goods-producing sector lost 26,600 jobs in the month as the number of manufacturing jobs fell by 27,500 jobs and the natural resources sector shed 6,500.
Meanwhile, the services sector lost 44,400 jobs as the number of public administration jobs fell by 24,900 jobs in November, due in part to the federal election in October.
Regionally, Quebec lost 45,100 jobs in November due to a decline in manufacturing as well as accommodation and food services. Alberta and B.C. both lost 18,200 jobs.
The bright spot in the jobs report was an increase in the year-over-year growth in average weekly wages to 4.5 per cent compared with 4.3 per cent in October.
– Files from Canadian Press
