Toronto region: 69.1 percent — Fair
14,600 new jobs were created last month in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), in marked contrast with the meagre 3,600 positions added over the two previous periods. As a result, this CMA’s Index climbs 4.4 points to 69.1 percent. May’s improvement, however, was insufficient to offset the loss of 34,700 jobs recorded for the first few months of the year. Nonetheless, over the past 12 months, employment grew by 2.1 percent. This month’s Index ranks 59th out of 120, meaning there were 61 months with lesser Indices over the past 120 months. From May 1996 to May 2006, employment in the Toronto region grew 32 percent.

Ottawa-Gatineau region: 97.5 percent — Excellent
Last month, 900 jobs were lost in the Ottawa-Gatineau region after seven consecutive monthly gains totalling 38,800 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. Despite May’s losses, however, Ottawa-Gatineau maintains its “excellent” employment status and its June Index climbs 0.7 points to 97.5 percent. Indeed, loses were too small to have a negative impact on Ottawa-Gatineau’s Index, which is also influenced by the positive employment trends of the past 10 years, which show June to be a strong month for employment. Only time will tell if this trend is maintained. Over the past 12 months, employment in the region grew by 5.8 percent. This month’s Index ranks 1st out of 120, meaning the past 119 months all had lesser Indices. Over the last ten years, employment for this CMA increased by 33 percent.