The unemployment rate for the region rose last month by two per cent, the largest increase in the province.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the unemployment rate in January for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region, which includes Grey Bruce, now sits at 5.8 per cent.
This jump comes after the region was sitting at one of the lowest unemployment rates in the province for several months.
The provincial unemployment rate increase by 0.3 per cent, now at 7.2 per cent.
Last month, the overall population in the region increased by 500, while the labour force size increased by 1,200. The population not in the labour force decreased by 900. The brought the overall participation rate up by 0.3 per cent, not at 61.3 per cent.
This was met by a 2,400 decrease in overall employment with about 5,400 full-time losses and 3,000 part-time gains.
The number of goods-producing sector employees decreased 2,200 last month. The latest percentage loss once again came from the agriculture sector at 20.7 per cent.
Information, culture, and recreation, meanwhile, experienced the largest percentage gain again at 13.1 per cent.
Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Dana Soucie says, “This aligns with the trends happening across Ontario; however, we will continue to monitor sectors where current economic challenges may be affecting them more than others.”
Current job postings in the region can be found on the connect2JOBS website here.