Ottawa Real Estate Board

Ottawa Employment Trends

The unemployment rate in Ottawa was 4% as of February 2023, up 0.2% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 6% below the peak from July 2020 and is below the long-run average.

There were 2,000 fewer full-time jobs in February 2023 compared to a month earlier. A gain of 1,100 part-time positions led to a decrease of 900 total jobs in February.

Full-time employment was still down 2,000 jobs from the peak in January 2023.

The number of full-time jobs in February was up from the previous month in agriculture, utilities, manufacturing, trade services, transportation & warehousing, the financial sector, business & building services, healthcare, and information & cultural services.

Full-time job losses in February occurred in natural resources, construction, professional & scientific services, education, accommodation & food services, and public administration.

* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.


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