The unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region increased to close out 2024.
The final unemployment numbers for last year were released by the Four County Labour Market Planning board, and the region's jobless rate increased by 0.4 percentage points in December to 3.6 per cent.
Despite the minor increase, the region’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the province. The provincial unemployment rate remained unchanged in December at 6.8 per cent.
"The unemployment rate has slightly increased showing some positive signs," says Dana Soucie, Executive Director for the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. "However, we have moved into the lowest rate in Ontario and are still seeing pockets of in demand occupations going unfilled in certain areas and sectors of the Region."
The Planning Board says the population increased by around 400 and the labour force size increased by around 700 in December. There was a slight increase in overall employment, but those gains came in part-time work while full-time jobs saw losses.
The goods-producing sector saw losses of nearly three per cent, with the biggest losses in agriculture and manufacturing.
Employment in the services sector increased nearly two per cent.
Current Job postings for the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth region can be found at www.connect2JOBS.ca. The current number of job postings is over 1,450.