Midwestern Ontario continues to enjoy the lowest unemployment rate in the province at 3.5%.
The economic region ranging from Stratford to the Bruce Peninsula had a net 400 job losses in October as 5,700 full time job loss were offset by part-time gains of +1,900 .
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board reports the jobless rate edged up .4 percentage points over last month, while the provincial rate decreased .2 % to 5.8%.
Fewer people were working in the goods producing sector while more were working in Agriculture and manufacturing.
Construction saw the greatest number of job losses at 500. Service producing jobs dropped by nearly 4,000 workers, but finance and real estate gained just over 1,000 jobs.
Local news for the region’s economy includes an announcement by 7 Acres in Kincardine that it will be expanding operations and creating 20 to 30 new jobs in Goderich.
As part of the Bruce Power Life Extension Project, APTIM Services Canada has announced it will be setting up a new facility in Teeswater.
Tenneco, currently employing 494 people locally, announced that it will be closing its Owen Sound facility as part of a restructuring initiative. The company expects the plant to be completely closed by mid-2020.
