The jobless rate in Ontario fell to 7.1 per cent last month – its lowest level since the global recession six years ago battered the province's economy.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that Ontario added 25,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate fell by three tenths of a percentage point to its lowest level since 2008. In the last year, the provincial economy has added about 49,000 jobs.

The September jobs report is good news for the Liberal government, which has focused on rebuilding the economy with a mix of transit and infrastructure spending, jobs and training subsidies to lure new plants and other measures to boost trade with China and other fast-growing economies.

Minister of Economy and Infrastructure Brad Duguid said Friday that a strong September pushed Ontario job creation past the 500,000 mark since 2008, when the recession began the painful restructuring of the province's traditional industrial sector.

"As of this morning, it is now confirmed that Ontario has created over half a million net new jobs since the global recession. September's positive job numbers helped us over the top on this," he told reporters.

Nationally, the jobless rate fell to 6.8 per cent and the Canadian economy added 74,000 jobs last month.

According to the most recent labour force survey published by Statistics Canada, national job gains were made in hospitality and food services, health care, construction, natural resources, in addition to finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, with education jobs experienced some decline.

However, Duguid acknowledged that despite the up-tick in employment, including an increase of 19,100 full-time jobs as well as to youth employment, which increased by 12,600 jobs, certain regions and industries were still struggling.

"Premier Wynne and our government recognize that even with these positive trending numbers, there are still too many people out of work," he said. "We also recognize that while some sectors are leading the recovery, others are still going through transition challenges, such as parts of our manufacturing sector."

The sectors of the Ontario economy hardest hit by the recession included autos and steel - primary industries that were major employers in Hamilton and southwestern Ontario.

The steel sector continues under pressure, with the recent bankruptcy filing of U.S. Steel Canada, the former Stelco, that could leave Ontario in the lurch for $150 million in pension payments. The company employs 1,600 people at mills in Hamilton and Nanticoke on the shore of Lake Erie and many of those workers are worrying about their future.

U.S. Steel Canada filed for creditor protection in September - after $2.4 billion in losses since 2008 - and wants to put its operations up for sale.

In a statement released Friday, Conservative infrastructure critic Ted Arnott pointed out that despite overall job gains, Ontario's unemployment rate has consistently exceeded the national average, and certain regions have even experienced an increase in unemployment.

"Locally, The Canadian Press reported this morning that in Waterloo Region the unemployment rate actually rose from 6.4 per cent to 6.7 per cent," Arnott said. "The Liberal government’s job creation record is their single greatest failure, going back to the 2008-09 recession. Ontario’s unemployment has now stood higher than the national average for 93 consecutive months."

In its July budget, the Liberal government unveiled a $130 billion, 10-year plan to build new transit, schools, hospitals and highways - which it said would help support 110,000 jobs a year.

Moreover, the government introduced a 10-year $2.5 billion jobs and prosperity fund to subsidize companies and lure new investments.

Ontario’s jobless rate hits six-year low of 7.1 per cent

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