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Ontario lost 355,000 jobs in 2020, marking single largest decline on record: FAO

Ontario's fiscal watchdog says the province lost more than 355,000 jobs last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FAO also says young workers hardest hit, with youth unemployment jumping to 22%

The Financial Accountability Officer says in a new report that the job losses represent the single largest annual decline on record. (Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press)

Ontario's fiscal watchdog says the province lost more than 355,000 jobs last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Financial Accountability Officer says in a new report Thursday that the job losses represent the single largest annual decline on record.

The report says that in addition to job losses, more than 765,000 Ontario residents worked fewer hours because of the pandemic.

The FAO says young workers were the hardest hit group, as youth unemployment jumped to 22 per cent.

The largest increase in job losses occurred in Peterborough, Ont., with a 13.5 per cent decline, and Windsor, Ont., which experienced a 10.9 per cent drop.

The hardest hit sector was accommodation and food services, with over 110,000 job losses.