An impressive 10,300 new jobs in December were added to gains of 5,300 and 5,800 made over the two previous periods, as reported by Statistics Canada. The results have allowed this month’s Index to increase by 11 per cent. Only time will tell if this trend will continue. In 2005, this CMA suffered numerous losses and slipped below the 80 per cent mark in July, for the first time since November 2004. Year-end gains have nonetheless allowed Ottawa-Gatineau to end 2005 with a positive employment tally (+ 10,100) with employment growth pegged at 1.6 per cent. This month’s Index ranks 7th out of 120, meaning there were 113 months with lesser Indices over the past 10 years. Over this same period, employment increased by 32 per cent.

Toronto’s Regional Index: 82.0 per cent
Toronto’s January Index forecast is down (− 6.7) following the loss of 8,300 jobs in December that essentially annulled previous gains of 7,500. This CMA’s employment status had dropped to “fair” in December 2004. For 2005, the region reports a net gain of 95,900 jobs with a growth rate pegged at 3.5 percent. This month’s Index ranks 31st out of 120. In other words, there were 89 months with lesser Indices over the past 10 years. From December 1995 to December 2005, employment in Toronto increased by 32 per cent.