The regional unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties increased to 4.9 per cent in August.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the higher unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region came as net employment declined by around 2,600 people last month. Two-hundred new full-time jobs were created, but more than 2,800 part-time positions lost.
“Our rate is in line with both seasonal norms and the provincial trends this month,” Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Dana Soucie says in a release. “The numbers show positive signs that our region is weathering the economic changes at this time and we will follow the sectors that show concerns as we move forward.”
The largest employment gains in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region last month came in the construction (+4,600), manufacturing (+800) and other services (+900) sectors.
There were job losses in the wholesale and retail trade (-2,700), utilities (-2,500), finance, insurance and real estate (-1,800) and educational services (-1,100) industries.
The size of the region’s labour force declined in August by around 1,300 people. The labour force participation rate — which includes everyone age 15 and older — was also lower (58.2%).
Ontario’s unemployment rate fell to 7.7 per cent. Nationally, it increased to 7.1 per cent; more than 66,000 jobs were lost across Canada.
