The regional unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties increased to 4.3 per cent in June.
The Four County Labour Market Labour Market Planning Board says about 400 new full-time jobs, and 600 part-time positions were created in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region last month.
Overall employment in the region also increased by 1,100 people. But the jobless rate was higher because the size of the labour force and overall population grew more than that.
The labour force participation rate for Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region also ticked higher in June, to 59.7 per cent.
The manufacturing (+1,400), construction (+1,000) and transportation and warehousing (+500) sectors led the jobs gains last month. The largest employment losses came in the wholesale and retail trade (-1,300), information, culture and recreation (-800) and utilities (-400) industries.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined for the first time since January, to 6.9 per cent in June. Ontario’s jobless rate ticked lower to 7.8 per cent.