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The capital region’s jobless rate jumped to 5.7 per cent in May compared to 5.3 per cent in April, driven down by developments on the Ottawa side of the river, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

Overall, the region suffered a net decline of 800 jobs, along with an increase of 3,200 new job seekers.

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These numbers are adjusted for seasonal influences.

Gatineau registered a strong gain of 2,800 jobs while in Ottawa the number employed dropped 3,600, with weaknesses reported in sectors that include media and restaurants.

As a result, Gatineau’s jobless rate fell below that of Ottawa for the first time since January.

Gatineau’s unemployment rate improved to 5.6 per cent in May compared to 5.7 per cent in April while in Ottawa the jobless rate deteriorated to 5.8 per cent from 5.1 per cent over the same period.

The divergence appears to have little to do with the civil service.

The region’s biggest employer, the federal government, adjusted its workforce marginally on both sides of the river — up a few hundred in Ottawa, down a few hundred in Gatineau.