Hortlander / CC
The unemployment rate in the area the includes Bruce and Grey counties fell to 3.9 per cent last month.
That’s down from 4.3 per cent in October. The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the lower jobless rate in November for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region came as more than 4,800 new part-time positions were created, partially offset by the loss of 200 full-time jobs.
Overall, net employment in the region increased by 4,600. The size of the labour force also grew, and the participation rate inched higher to 61.8 per cent. The labour force participation rate measures everyone of working age — 15 or older — who has a job or is looking for one, against the total eligible working age population.
“This is the highest participation rate we have seen this year which is a great sign,” Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Dana Soucie says in a release. “We will continue to monitor other sectors for seasonality and annual fluctuations.”
Most of the job gains came in services industries. The wholesale and retail trade (+2,100), agriculture (+1,700), educational services (+900) and building and other support services (+700) sectors led employment gains.
While the manufacturing (-3,500) and construction (-1,100) industries had the most job losses.
Ontario’s unemployment rate declined to 7.3 per cent last month. Nationally, it fell to 6.5 per cent as more than 54,000 new jobs were created across the country.