The regional 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 in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region fell to 4.1 per cent in July, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from June.
More than 1,000 new full-time jobs were created, but that was offset by the loss of 3,400 part-time positions.
“Our rate remains steady at the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario this month,” Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Dana Soucie says in a release. “When looking at various indicators, especially our participation rate, actively engaging in retention and attraction strategies is extremely important for our region. With the current economic uncertainties, we will likely continue to see constant changes.”
The lower unemployment number came even as fewer people were working, as the size of the region’s labour force dropped by 2,800 people last month.
“This dragged the region’s participation rate down by one percentage point to 58.7%. The region experienced a decrease of 2,400 people in overall employment,” a release from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board explains.
The largest employment gains in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region came in the manufacturing (+1,500), professional, scientific and technical services (+1,900), agriculture (+400) and information, culture and recreation (+500) sectors.
There were job losses in the business, building and support services (-800), education services (1,100), utilities (-1,200), finance, insurance and real estate (-1,100) and accommodation and food services (-900) industries.
Ontario’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.9 per cent in July. Nationally, it was unchanged at 6.9 per cent — even as more than 41,000 jobs were lost across the country.
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