The number of local residents receiving employment insurance benefits fell on both sides of the Ottawa River in October, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.
In Ottawa, the number of claimants dropped 5.6 per cent year-over-year to 7,210 individuals. In Gatineau, meanwhile, the figure fell 7.1 per cent to 3,670 claimants.
Declines are usually caused by more people returning to work or an individual’s benefits running out.
Locally, employers in Ottawa and Gatineau have been creating jobs in recent months and collectively pushed employment to a record high in November.
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However, an increase in the size of the labour force meant the unemployment rate held steady at 6.2 per cent in November.
