Toronto’s Regional Index: 86.6 per cent
This Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) reports yet another Index increase for November (+ 3.5) following the creation of 17,400 jobs, adding to gains of 80,300 recorded over the 5 previous periods. Toronto’s employment status had dropped to “fair” in December 2004. Toronto reports year-to-date net employment gains of 96,700 with a growth rate of 3.6 per cent. For the past 12 months, gains were slightly lower (+ 93,200) with employment growth pegged at 3.4 per cent. Compared to the past 10 years, Toronto’s Index ranks 12th with 108 months with lesser Indices. From October 1995 to October 2005, employment grew by 32 per cent.

Ottawa-Gatineau’s Regional Index: 78.9 per cent
A major employment gain of 5,800 jobs, as reported by Statistics Canada, has allowed this CMA’s Index to climb substantially (+ 7.2). Only time will tell if these gains can be maintained. For the previous period, the creation of 1,000 new jobs was not enough to push up this CMA’s Index mainly due to past losses of 7,100 jobs and a lacklustre month of July when the Index fell below the 80 per cent mark for the first time since November 2004. Year-to-date net job creation remains negative (− 5,500), with a growth rate of − 0.9 per cent. For the past 12 months, net job creation was positive (+ 5,900) with a growth rate of 1.0 per cent. This month’s Index ranks 29th out of 120, leaving 91 months with lesser Indices over the past 10 years. Over this same period, employment in the region has nonetheless increased by 28 per cent.