MAY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASES TO 5.9%
Walkerton, ON (June 5, 2026) – In May, the unemployment rate in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region increased by 0.7 percentage points to 5.9%, the largest percentage increase of all economic regions in the province yet continues to hold steady as the lowest unemployment rate in the province. The provincial unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 7.4% this month, both unadjusted for seasonality. Employment in the Region decreased by 100 in May, with losses in part-time employment (-8.2%; -3,000) offset by gains in full-time employment (+2.2%; +2,900).
In May, the Region’s overall population aged 15+ increased by 300 whereas the labour force size increased by 1,100 people. The number of people not in the labour force in the Region decreased by 800. This in turn increased the Region’s participation rate by 0.3 percentage points to 60.4%. Employment in the Region increased in the goods-producing sector (+6.1%; +3,600) yet decreased in the services-producing sector (-3.3%; -3,600).
The Goods-producing sector saw an increase in overall employment numbers in May (+6.1%; +3,600). Gains were experienced in Manufacturing (+10.4%, +1,900), Agriculture (+8.5%, +600), Utilities (+2.2%, +300), and Construction (+2.0%, +400).
Overall employment in the Services-producing sector saw a decrease of -3.3% (-3,600 people) in May. Business, building and other support services experienced the largest percentage decrease in employment (-19.1%, -900), followed by Other services except public administration (-11.3%, -800) and Healthcare and social assistance (-10.1%, -2,200). On the other hand, Transportation and warehousing experienced the largest percentage increase in employment (+17.3%, +900), followed by Accommodation and food services (+10.0%, +800) and Public administration (+2.9%, +100).
“This month’s statistics provided us with some very positive signs for our region’s workforce” says Dana Soucie, Chief Executive Officer for the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. “Increases in full-time employment, an increase in labour force size, a decrease in those not in the labour force and gains in some sectors we have been previously seeing declines show promising changes”.
Current Job postings for the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth region have increased overtime since the pandemic and can be found at www.connect2JOBS.ca. The current number of job postings currently exceeds 1,500.
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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. Numbers may not sum to total due to rounding.
