WALKERTON – The region’s unemployment rate has hit its highest point in more than two years.
According to the Four County Labour Market Planning Board, the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region’s unemployment rate was 6.0 per cent in April, a 0.1 percentage point higher than the month previous.
Provincially, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points to 5.1 per cent.
The Planning Board says both rates are unadjusted for seasonality.
With that said, the region gained 1,900 jobs last month – 400 full-time and 1,500 part-time – while the labour force increased from 163,700 people in March to 166,000 people in April.
The number of goods-producing sector employees increased this month by net 3,600 (+6.2 per cent). Construction experienced the greatest gain this month (+2,900) followed by utilities (+400). Manufacturing is the only goods-producing sector that experienced loss this month (-100).
Employment in the services-producing sector decreased by net 1,600. Professional, scientific and technical services experienced the biggest loss once again this month (-2,000) followed by information, culture and food services (-600).
Business, building and other support services experienced the largest gain this month (+600) followed by finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+600).
The Planning Board’s says there are more than 3,200 job postings on its online job board – www.connect2JOBS.ca.
