WALKERTON – In April, the unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region decreased by 1.2 percentage points to 3.3 per cent, remaining the second lowest in Ontario.
The provincial unemployment rate also decreased by 0.6 percentage points to 5.6 per cent, both unadjusted for seasonality.
Overall net employment in the region increased by 2,800, with full-time losses (-200) and part-time gains (+3,000).
The number of goods-producing sector employees increased by net 800. The main driving force came from gains in utilities (1,400) even though construction experienced a loss of 900.
Employment in the services-producing sector increased by net 2,000. However, healthcare and social assistance continued to experience losses (-2,300). Gains in wholesale and retail trade (+2,600) and other sectors offset the losses, which resulted in positive net gains.
“While we are seeing increases in employment in some sectors, including utilities and wholesale and retail trade, the extremely low local unemployment rate continues to be challenging for employers who are struggling to fill positions,” says Sarah Pelton, executive director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
