April Unemployment Rate Increases to 6.0%

APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASES TO 6.0%

 

Walkerton, ON (May 5, 2023) – In April, the unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region increased slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 6.0%, hit the highest point since April 2021. The provincial unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 5.1%, both unadjusted for seasonality.

Overall net employment in the region increased by 2,000, with 400 full-time and 1,500 part-time gains respectively. The region’s labour force size increased from 163,700 people in March 2023 to 166,000 people in April 2023.

The number of Goods-producing sector employees increased this month by net 3,600 (+6.2%). Construction experienced the greatest gain this month (+2,900) followed by Utilities (+400). Manufacturing is the only Goods-producing sector that experienced loss this month (-100).

Employment in the Services-producing sector decreased by net 1,600. Professional, scientific and technical services experienced the biggest loss once again this month (-2,000) followed by Information, culture and food services (-600). Business, building and other support services experienced the largest gain this month (+600) followed by Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+600).

Current job postings for the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth region have increased overtime since the pandemic and can be found at: www.connect2JOBS.ca. This is updated regularly so visit often and create your account to track the job opportunities. Our current number of job postings almost reached 3,200 postings.

 

-30-

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.