The unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties declined last month.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the jobless rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region was five per cent in July, down from 5.6 per cent a month prior.
The planning board says the region’s unemployment rate in July was the lowest in the province, but it came even as the economy shaved jobs.
Total employment in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region fell in July, with the addition of 1,400 full-time jobs offset by the loss of 1,600 part-time positions. The size of the labour force fell by more than 1,300 people, resulting in the unemployment number decline.
The labour force participation rate also declined to 59.6 per cent. The number measures everyone of working age — 15 or older — who has a job or is looking for one, against the total eligible working age population.
Employment gains were posted in the professional, scientific and technical services (+1,000), information, culture and recreation (+800), agriculture (+500) and public administration (+500) industries.
The manufacturing (-1,200), construction (-800), healthcare and social assistance (-600) and utilities (-200) sectors led the job losses in the region last month.
Ontario’s unemployment rate declined to 6.8 per cent last month. Nationally, it fell to the lowest number in two years at 6.4 per cent — as the Canadian economy added 75,000 jobs.