Bill Smith / CC
The regional unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties rose slightly to 5.6 per cent in December.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region saw both full-time (-100) and part-time net job (-100) losses.
An an annual basis, the planning board says the regional jobless rate for 2020 was 7.2 per cent, compared to 4.3 per cent in 2019.
Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Gemma Mendez-Smith says the regional unemployment rate for December — and for 2020 overall — continues to be the lowest in the province.
The manufacturing (-1,400), finance/insurance/real estate (-1,000) and utilities (-700) sectors led the region’s job losses in December. That was offset by gains in transportation/warehousing (1,200) and other service sectors.
The Ontario unemployment rate also ticked up higher to 9.5 per cent. Nationally, it rose to 8.6 per cent. Canada had its first monthly decline in net jobs since April, as provinces imposed stricter shutdown measures in response to Covid.