HURON-PERTH – The Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region holds the second lowest unemployment rate in Ontario, despite a 0.4 percentage point increase last month.
According to the Four County Labour Market Planning Board, the local unemployment rate now sits at 4.0 per cent, up from 3.6 per cent in May.
Provincially, the employment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 5.4 per cent.
Both the provincial and local numbers are unadjusted for seasonality.
Overall net employment in the region increased by 2,700, with full-time gains (+4,000) and part-time losses (-1,200).
The number of goods-producing sector employees increased by net 600. The main driving force came from gains in utilities (+900) and construction (+800). Manufacturing experienced the biggest loss (-1,000).
Employment in the services-producing sector increased by net 2,100. Wholesale and retail trade and professional, scientific and technical services both experienced gains of 1,200, whereas transportation and warehousing experienced the biggest loss (-1,000).
“Positive signs are showing with a decrease of job vacancies and a steady increase of full-time employment,” says Dana Soucie, executive director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. “However, the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries continue to struggle to fill positions. The collection and analysis of local data for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region will be critical to exposing the unique challenges and opportunities within our local labour market.”
The Planning Board’s online job portal – www.connect2JOBS.ca – currently has more than 2,600 job postings, a reduction of 200 posting a month prior.
