WINDSOR — Windsor has the highest unemployment rate in the country.
Statistic Canada reports the rate rose to 8.3 per cent in January, up from 7.6 per cent in December.
Workforce Windsor-Essex Senior Director Justin Falconer admits the figure was a bit surprising noting there wasn't a major layoff announcement in the region last month.
The local sectors that experienced job losses were retail, construction and finance and real estate — some of those job losses are due to seasonal work which is slow in the winter months.
He adds there was also the two-week layoff at the Windsor Assembly Plant which has a ripple effect in the local economy.
Falconer also points out the population growth in Windsor-Essex.
"We continue to attract new people to our region and so that is putting upward pressure on our unemployment rates as well."
He notes there were job gains in January in Windsor-Essex in professional, sciencitific and technical services such as engineers.
Across the country, 34, 500 jobs were added to the Canadian economy, pushing the unemployment rate down slightly to 5.5 per cent.
The number of full-time jobs rose in January, while the number of part-time jobs dropped.
Across the country, manufacturing, construction and agriculture saw the most gains in employment, while jobs fell in health care and social assistance.