Conditions in the Greater Sudbury labour market were strong in December as employment increased nearly two percent, the strongest monthly gain since July.
The labour force also expanded, but at a slower pace. As a result, the three-month moving average unemployment rate fell from 6.8 percent in November to 6.1 percent. This was the lowest unemployment rate posted for Greater Sudbury since the labour market data series started in January 1990.
The Greater Sudbury labour market was also stronger over the past year as employment rose nearly six percent in 2006. More than two-thirds of these new jobs were in the services-producing sector.
Because employment growth outpaced the labour force expansion, unemployment decreased. This caused the three-month moving average unemployment rate in Greater Sudbury to fall from 7.3 percent last December to the current 6.1 percent.
