Ottawa's employment picture darkened in March, even as the Canadian economy created more jobs than in any month since 1976. Statistics Canada says the capital's jobless rate rose 0.4 per cent to 7.5 per cent. Employment declined by 6,000.
The agency reported a big drop in employment in the retail/wholesale trade sector, and in manufacturing. Employment in the tech sector, defined as computers and telecommunications, dropped by 2,000 to 58,000. A year ago, 69,000 people were employed in technology jobs. The sector bottomed out last September, as employment reached 51,000.
The losses were partly offset by job gains in education, construction and public administration.
Overall, there are 11,000 fewer people working in Ottawa today than a year ago.
I remember half year ago, I have estimated in Ottawa, the number in hi-tech maybe down to 48000, you will see ...