The local economic region no longer has the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario, after a slight increase in the final month of 2022.
According to numbers released by the Four County Labour Market Planning Board, the unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region increased by 0.8 percentage points in December to 3.5%.
Though it still sits well below the provincial average of 4,8%, the region is now has the second lowest unemployment rate, after leading Ontario in that area from August to November.
Overall net employment in the region decreased by 3,600, with 6,000 full-time losses and 2,400 part-time gains. The region’s labour force size also decreased by 2,200 people from November to December.
In a release, Dana Soucie, Executive Director for the Four County Labour Market Planning Board says that due to an aging workforce and high participation rates; vacant jobs are increasing and staying open longer, noting the need to attract and retain more workers to the region.
Current job postings for the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth region can be found at www.connect2JOBS.ca.
