News Release
July 2017 – Unemployment Rate Continues To Drop
Media Information:
Gemma Mendez-Smith
Walkerton, ON (July 7, 2017) – The June unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula economic region edged down slightly by 1% point to 3.5%, continuing a downward trend since March 2017. The decrease was mostly the result of fewer people searching for work (-1,400). At the same time, the unemployment rate in Ontario declined by 0.2% point to 6.2%.
Employment in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region rose by 100 in June. This gain was mostly in parttime work (+300), offset by a decline in full-time work (-200).
Employment in the region’s goods-producing sector increased by 1,100 in June, led by Manufacturing (+1,000) and Agriculture (+700). Over the same period, fewer people worked in Construction (-400) and Utilities (-300).
In contrast, employment in the region’s services-producing sector decreased by 1,000 in June. Employment losses were seen in Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (-900), Transportation and warehousing (-800), Accommodation and food services (-700), and Public administration (-600). However, there was a notable employment increase in Business, building and other support services (+1,400) and Educational services (+300).
On a positive note for the area, members of Huron County’s Economic Development team attended a job fair in Mississauga. The job fair was specifically for immigrants living in the Greater Toronto Area, but with an interest in moving to a rural community. An estimated 500 people attended this job fair, and the Huron County team returned home with about 100 resumes from people who were interested in learning more about Huron County.
RBW Graphics in Owen Sound was looking for roughly 20 people to work full-time in the Press Division. Successful applicants will start orientation training in the second week of July.
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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.