News Release
January 2017 – More People Looking For Work Last Month
Media Information:
Gemma Mendez-Smith
Walkerton, ON (January 6, 2017) – While the province’s unemployment rate fell .2% between November (5.9%) and December 2016 (5.7%), the rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula economic region went up .8% from 3.0% to 3.8%.
The labour force in our economic region had an additional 1,800 people looking for work last month, rising from 158,200 to 160,000. The total number employed rose from 153,500 in November to 154,000 in December with part-time gains of 900 offset by losses in full-time positions.
Overall the 2016 net labour force was smaller (152,800) compared to 2015 (153,700). The region ended 2016 with an annual unemployment rate of 4.8%, .9% below the 2015 rate of 5.7%.
Employment in the Services-producing sector netted a 1,200 loss which was largely felt in Business, building and other support services (-800), Information, culture and recreation (-600) and Other services (-600). The most employment gains were in Public administration (+900) and Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (+600).
The Goods-producing sector had a net gain of 1,700 with Manufacturing (+1,400) and Construction (+800), offset with losses in Agriculture (-700) and Utilities (-100).
A late year announcement by Maple Leaf Foods, with the expansion of a turkey processing facility in Mitchell, will see the addition of a possible 100 new employees by mid-2017.
Employers in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth counties can help the Four County Labour Market Planning Board understand their workforce needs by completing the EmployerOne survey available January 1 to 31, 2016. Employers can visit www.planningboard.ca/survey to complete the survey.
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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.