Any economic recovery in Quebec and Ontario will be closely linked to that of the U.S., says an economist with Canada's largest financial co-operative group.
Mouvement Desjardins' Joelle Noreau says there's been no clear recovery in Quebec despite 8,300 new jobs created in the province in August.
Quebec's unemployment rate continued to rise to 9.1 per cent last month from 9 per cent in July.
Noreau says there needs to be conclusive and steady growth in the U.S. economy before Quebecers see a noticeable or lasting improvement.
She notes the province has close ties with its southern neighbour in sectors heavily affected by the recession, notably manufacturing, transport and aeronautics.
The economist says Ontario faces a similar situation.
Ontario's jobless rates hit 9.3 per cent in July and 9.4 per cent in August, despite 12, 200 new jobs in the province last month.
Canada's latest unemployment figures, released Friday, had the rate at a 10-year high of 8.7 per cent, though Statistics Canada reported the economy created 27,100 new jobs in August.
A positive report from the U.S. showed the economy lost 216,000 jobs last month, slightly better than predictions of around 225,000.
