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The OFIA, in a media release, stated the latest Statistics Canada numbers show the jobless rate in Northeastern Ontario is the worst in the province with employment levels at only 53.5 per cent. “With almost half the workforce out of a job in Northeastern Ontario, how far behind can Northwestern Ontario and southern Ontario be from experiencing the same fate?” said the release. While the 53.5 per cent figure is accurate, it can lead to confusion, said Marc Levesque, a senior information officer. “It makes it sound like 46.5 per cent of people want a job but they can‘t find one,” he said from Ottawa. “That‘s what it looks like but that‘s not the case.” Levesque said some of those people included in the 46.5 per cent statistic aren‘t even looking for work or may have a job starting in the future and some may be going to school or they may be retired. The actual unemployment rate in Northeastern Ontario last month was 9.1 per cent. The Northwestern Ontario figure in December was 6.5 per cent. Levesque said the unemployment rate is the number of people unemployed who are not working but looking for work. OFIA manager of forest policy Scott Jackson said 46.5 per cent of people in Northeastern Ontario in the labour force are not working. “These are statistics that we‘ve quoted from Stats Canada. My apologies,” he said in an interview with The Chronicle-Journal. “Someone did check this, it just wasn‘t me. This is where you‘d have to contact Stats Canada,” Jackson said. “In no way was it intended to be misleading. If 53.5 per cent is the employment rate, and that‘s what we‘re stating, granted, we said ’levels‘ and it should read ’rate,‘ people can call us for clarification absolutely,” he said. “It‘s stating a fact and a figure that‘s toward the heart of what our concern is.” Top of Page |
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September 2, 2010, 8:22 am |