The unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties fell to 3.6 per cent in October.
According to data released by the Four County Labour Market Planning Board, the decline in the jobless rate actually came as the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region shaved 1,500 full-time and 100 part-time jobs last month.
But the size of the labour force shrank by around 2,500 workers, resulting in the lower unemployment rate even as overall jobs fell.
The manufacturing (-2,100 employees), construction (-1,600) and information, culture and recreation (-1,100) industries led the job losses in October. The education (+1,500 jobs) transportation (+1,100), and agriculture sectors (+500) saw employment gains.
Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 5.7 per cent in October, even as the national economy added 18,000 new jobs. Ontario’s jobless figure was also up slightly (0.2 points) to 6.2 per cent.