The goods-producing sector lost a net total of 3,600 jobs in April, with the majority of losses reported in Manufacturing (-14,900). Meanwhile, gains were reported in Construction (+ 9,700) and Agriculture (+ 2, 100).

Over the past year, employment in Ontario has grown by 2.2 %.

This month’s index ranks 1st out of 120, meaning there were 119 months with weaker indices over the past 120 months. From April 1998 to April 2008, employment in this CMA has grown by 23 %.

Ottawa-Gatineau region: 88.4 % — Favourable
This region lost a total of 1,300 jobs in April, for a total of 3,300 losses since December 2007. As such, the Ottawa-Gatineau index is down 2.6 percentage points for May, causing it to lose its excellent employment status obtained over the past eight months.

Over the past 12 months, employment in this CMA has grown by 3.5 %. This month’s index ranks 8th out of 120, meaning there were 112 months with weaker indices over the past 10 years. From April 1998 to April 2008, employment in this CMA has grown by 28 %.

Toronto region: 74.5 % — Fair
15,400 jobs were created in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in April, for a total of 48,000 new positions in the past three months. Data compiled by Statistics Canada over the last 10 years also show an upwards trend in job creation for this region during the month of May. As such, this month’s Index is up 6.9 percentage points and remains fair at 74.5 %, just one point shy of favourable status.

Over the past 12 months, employment in the Toronto region has grown by 2.8 %.

This month’s index ranks 23rd out of 120, meaning there were 97 months with weaker indices over the past 10 years. From April 1998 to April 2008, employment in this CMA has increased by 29 %.