The regional unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties fell to 8.6 per cent in July, down from the 9.6 per cent rate a month prior.
While still well above pre-pandemic levels, the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula economic region had the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario last month, according to a Four County Labour Market Planning Board release.
More than 1,400 full-time jobs were created, offset by losses of around 1,100 part-time positions.
The healthcare and social assistance (+2,100), manufacturing (+1,900) and wholesale/retail trade (+1,100) sectors saw the great job gains. The construction (-1,500) and agriculture (-700) industries led the losses.
“While not the only Economic Region that saw a decrease in the unemployment rate between June and July, the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region now holds the lowest unemployment rate in the province,” says Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Gemma Mendez-Smith in a statement.
According to Statistics Canada, the national unemployment rate fell to 10.9 per cent last month — down from 12.3 per cent in June. Nearly 420,000 jobs were created across the country.
In Ontario, the jobless rate dropped to 11.3 per cent.