News Release
April 2018 – Unemployment Rate Increase Continues
Media Information:
Gemma Mendez-Smith
Walkerton, ON (April 6, 2018) – The unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region rose in March by 0.4 percentage points to 4.9%, a result of more people participating in the labour market. At the same time, the provincial unemployment rate in March increased by 0.3 percentage point to 5.7%.
From February to March, there were 500 more people employed, mostly the result of increases in fulltime work (+600).
Employment in the Goods-producing sector declined by 500 in March. There were fewer people working in Agriculture (-1,400) and Construction (-500). At the same time, employment increased in Manufacturing (+1,200) and Utilities (+400).
The number of Services-producing sector employees increased by 1,000 in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region in March. Employment increased in several industries, led by Accommodation and food services (+1,000), Other services (except public administration) (+900), Business, building and other support services (+700), and Educational services (+500). There were smaller increases in Transportation and warehousing (+300), Professional, scientific and technical services (+300), Wholesale and retail trade (+200), and Public administration (+100). In contrast, fewer people worked in Health care and social assistance (-2,400), Information, culture and recreation (-500), and Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (-200).
“Employers in the region have opportunities that continue to go unfilled. Those who have lost jobs can use employment services to help transition into new of different employment,” says Gemma MendezSmith, Executive Director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
Favourable employment news includes Kincardine’s new Tartan Tusk Pub and Eatery with a staff of 15.
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Note: Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey provides estimates of employment and unemployment, based on a sampling of households in communities. Stratford-Bruce Peninsula figures represent a three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality.