The unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties increased slightly in December, even though more people were working.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the jobless rate in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region ticked up to four per cent last month — from 3.9 per cent in November — despite net employment gains of 2,600 positions. More than 2,700 new part-time jobs were created, offset partially by the loss of 100 full-time positions.
The slight increase to the unemployment rate came because the job gains were outpaced by an increase to region’s labour force size, which grew by 3,000 people.
The labour force participation rate also hit a 2025 high, at 62.8 per cent.
“We continue to see positive signs for our region with the increase in participation rates of those employed or seeking employment and the decrease of those not in the labour force,” Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Dana Soucie says in a release.
The agriculture (+1,200), utilities (+800), construction (+800), healthcare and social assistance (+1,300), educational services (+600) and other services (+1,400) sectors led the job gains last month.
The most employment losses came in the manufacturing (-1,400), professional, scientific and technical services (-1,200) and information, culture and recreation (-500) industries.
Ontario’s unemployment rate increased to 7.9 per cent in December. Nationally, it jumped to 6.8 per cent — even as more than 8,500 new jobs were created across the country.