London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis says the recent rise in unemployment reflects a broader regional trend tied to economic uncertainty.
Lewis said joblessness has increased across southwestern Ontario, though London has fared slightly better than some neighbouring communities.
“It’s actually a trend that we’re seeing across southwestern Ontario, and London has actually fared better than some of our neighbours, which isn’t great news,” Lewis said.
He attributed the increase largely to uncertainty stemming from the U.S. tariff dispute and its impact on manufacturing.
“At the end of the day, it’s the U.S. tariff trade war situation and the uncertainty, and how deeply tied our economy — particularly our manufacturing economy — is,” Lewis said.
Lewis added that the closure of Auto Belt Inc. last year also contributed to higher unemployment.
Despite the challenges, Lewis said there may be signs of improvement ahead, pointing to the upcoming PowerCo Volkswagen battery plant.
He said several businesses connected to Volkswagen’s supply chain have expressed interest in locating in the region, which could eventually lead to job creation.
“There certainly have been interested businesses involved in the Volkswagen supply chain that are expressing interest and exploring the potential to set up shop,” Lewis said. “There may be some silver lining on the horizon, but realistically, it will be many months before we see job creation.”
As residents look ahead to the new year, workforce officials say some sectors continue to show demand.
Petrusia Hontar, executive director of the Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board, said retail, food services and transportation remain the top industries seeking workers.
“What we have been seeing in our region in the last few months is that retail and food services are the primary jobs, along with transport truck drivers,” Hontar said.
She said communication skills remain the most in-demand skill among employers.
Hontar added that as jobs become more complex, employers are also placing greater emphasis on organizational, computer and technical skills.
