While the national unemployment rate dropped last month, the local jobless rate went up.
The unemployment rate for the Stratford-to-Bruce Peninsula economic region increased from 5.6% to 6.3%.
Construction, manufacturing, and the goods-producing sectors saw employment losses. The service-producing sector and utilities saw an employment gain in March.
Employment in Perth, Huron, Bruce and Grey counties remained roughly the same at 142,100 over the past month.
"All this points to some stability in our local economy," says Gemma Mendez-Smith, executive director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
A recent announcement by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport to invest $3.3-million in the reconstruction of the Blyth Memorial Community Hall is part of the provincial government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs.
"With this investment we will see a growth in local jobs," added Mendez-Smith.
