The Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region had the largest increase in unemployment for the second month in a row, according to the latest numbers released by the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
In September, the unemployment rate for the region increased by 0.6 per cent to 4.3. The labour board says the region’s unemployment rate still remains the second lowest in the province, and well under the provincial unemployment rate of 7.5 per cent.
The labour board pointed to a seasonal decrease in overall employment as the main cause, as the region lost a net of "approximately 1,300 full-time and 200 part-time" jobs.
The board also says despite a population increase of about 400 in September, the labour force size decreased by 300 to 172,800, resulting in a participation rate of 62.3 per cent.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board is still looking for businesses to take part in its EmployerOne survey. The deadline to fill out the questionnaire is November 30.