The local unemployment rate ticked up slightly in the month of August.
That's according to the latest jobs release from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board, which says the August unemployment rate in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region went up 0.3 percent from 3.6 to 3.9 percent. This was still the lowest unemployment rate in all of Ontario, though. The provincial unemployment rate decreased to 8.6 percent, with both rates unadjusted for seasonality. Between July and August, the labour force decreased by 1,500 and unemployment increased by 400.
Net employment in the region decreased by 1,800, with full-time losses of 2,700 offset by part-time gains of 900.This was the largest job loss in the region so far this year, which could be somewhat attributed to summer seasonal jobs ending. Manufacturing losses alone accounted for 1,700 job losses.
“Many of the job losses could be attributed to students returning to school,” says Gemma Mendez-Smith, Executive Director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. “A decrease in the labour pool will certainly affect the already stressed labour supply for employers and efforts to grow the workforce remains a key priority for our region.”
Current job postings for the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth region have increased over time since the pandemic and can be found at: http://www.connect2JOBS.ca.
