Unemployment rates have remained over 12 per cent on the Island for the last three months, after hovering around 10 per cent during the first few months of the year.

Unemployment became a point of controversy in the fall, when in September the rate exceeded that in Newfoundland and Labrador, giving P.E.I. the worst record in the country.

At the time, Finance Minister Wes Sheridan said that one month was not a cause for concern. Sheridan said the rates varied a lot from month to month because of the Island's small population. He would only be concerned if it appeared high employment rates became more of a trend.

"The anomaly was September," Sheridan said. "We are down 1.5 per cent from that. And what we have to look at is to get a good feel for where we are and where we are heading with regards to unemployment numbers. We have to see a full year rolling to get an idea of where we are."

The rate has only fallen below 11 per cent in one month since June.

Sheridan claims the Island is up 2,300 jobs in the last month.