Oscar R.S. / CC
The unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties ticked higher last month.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the jobless rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region increased to 5.1 per cent in February, up slightly from 4.9 per cent a month prior.
It is still the lowest regional unemployment rate in the province.
The planning board says the higher jobless rate came as more than 2,100 full-time positions and 1,300 part-time jobs were lost last month.
Overall, employment in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region declined by 3,300 in February.
The labour force participation rate declined to 62.3 per cent. The number measures everyone of working age — 15 or older — who has a job or is looking for one, against the total eligible working age population.
The construction (-2,400), agriculture (-2,000), professional, scientific and technical services (-1,300) and other services (-1,000) sectors led the job losses in the region last month.
Employment gains were posted in the wholesale and retail trade (+1,600) healthcare and social assistance (+1,100), finance, insurance and real estate (+400) and manufacturing (+300) industries.
“We continue to experience a very low unemployment rate for our region but continue to see positive signs for our workforce,” Four County Labour Market Planning Board Executive Director Dana Soucie says in a release. “Gains in employment are being seen in sectors that have previously seen decreases, which is a positive sign of their recovery. The decreases in goods producing sector align with seasonal trends but may be a bit higher due to the current confidence levels in the market.”
Ontario’s unemployment rate increased to 7.6 per cent last month. Nationally, it was up to 6.7 per cent — as the Canadian economy shed more than 84,000 jobs.