Montreal unemployment rate hits 30-year low for December

Montreal's labour market continues to make gains, as newly released figures suggest the city's unemployment rate in December was the lowest its been in nearly three decades.

According to Statistics Canada,the unemployment rate on the island of Montreal for December was 7.3 per cent, downthree points from December 2015.

• What does 2017 have in store for Quebec's economy?

The previous low for December was in 2007 and 2008, when the unemployment rate for the island was 8.6 per cent.

When the greater Montreal area, which includes Laval and parts of the South Shore, is taken into account, the labour-market picture gets even brighter.

At 6.8 per cent, the December unemployment rate for the region is at its lowest since 2006 and 2007, when it hit 7 per cent.

"We're observing a clear trend downwards," said EmmanuelleBoudreau, an analyst with Statistics Canada.

• Canada adds 54,000 jobs in December

Boudreau noted that last Decemberunemployment was at 8.8 per cent for the Montreal region, and has edged downwards ever since.

"The decrease was produced throughout this period," she added. "Since October, it's a bit more stable. The unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent in October, 6.5 in November and now 6.8."

The positive jobs report for Montreal reflected overall gains in Quebec.

The province added 20,000 jobs in December, with improvements coming in educational services, information, culture andrecreation andforestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction.

Quebec's unemployment rate is now at 6.6 per cent. The national rateis at6.9 per cent.

• 5 reasons why Canada's economy is looking up in 2017