There were significant gains in the local labour market in April.
Data released Friday from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board indicates employment increased by 6,100 in the region, with both full-time and part-time gains.
Employment in the services-producing sector increased by 4,700 in the Stratford-to-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region. The number of goods-producing sector employees increased by 1,400.
The April unemployment rate for the Huron-Perth-Bruce-Grey region dropped 1.0 percentage point to 5.9 percent.
The provincial unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 6.0 per cent.
The national unemployment rate edged down to 5.7 per cent last month from 5.8 per cent in March as the economy added a record 106-thousand, 500 jobs.
Favourable news for the region’s economy includes: McLean’s Owen Sound plant recently completed their expansion, which will eventually add 50 to 60 employees; BC Instruments opened a facility in Durham; and Pizza Hut will be opening in Kincardine with plans to employ 10-15 people.
