The number of those in Windsor collecting employment insurance fell by 1,400 in January, as the economy added 2,100 jobs, pushing the unemployment rate down half a percentage point to 7.2 per cent.
Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for January said Windsor's labour participation rate didn't change from December, remaining at 62.4 per cent.
Jobless rates provincially and nationally also fell, although not by as much.
Nationally, the economy added 37,000 new jobs. It was enough to lower the unemployment rate by a tenth-of-a-percentage point to 5.7 per cent, the first decline in more than a year.
Using the same metrics as the U.S., Canada's unemployment rate was 4.8 per cent, compared to 3.7 per cent across the border.
Employment in wholesale and retail trade increased by 31,000 positions and by 28,000 in finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing. That was offset by the loss of 30,000 positions in accommodation and food services.
Population growth outpaced job growth, as another 126,000 people moved to Canada. That put lowered the participation rate by 0.1 per cent and the employment rate by as much.
Ontario's jobless rate fell to 6.2 per cent, down 0.1 per cent from December as the provincial economy added 24,000 net positions, the most in Canada.
Hourly wages grew another 5.3 per cent from January 2023, or by $1.74 to $34.75. Wages grew faster for women, by 6.2 per cent to $32.38. Pay for men grew by 4.4 per cent to $37.06.
Canadians also worked more. Total hours increased by 1.1 per cent over the past year, and by 0.6 per cent from December.
The January survey was conducted between January 14 and January 20.
February's survey is scheduled between February 11 and February 17, and will be released on March 8.
