Gemma Mendez-Smith, Executive Director of Four County Labour Market Planning Board (photo by Bob Montgomery)Gemma Mendez-Smith, Executive Director of Four County Labour Market Planning Board (photo by Bob Montgomery)
Midwestern

Midwestern Ontario jobless rate dips below three per cent

Midwestern Ontario continues to boast the lowest unemployment rate in the province, as it dipped below three per cent for just the third time since 2001.

In November, the unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region sat at 2.4 per cent. In July 2001, the unemployment rate was 2.8 per cent and in July 2017 it was 2.9 per cent.

Last month, the provincial unemployment rate saw a decrease of 0.5 percentage points to 4.9 per cent.

The number of Goods-producing sector employees increased by 2,200 in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region. The greatest gains were in Construction (+1,100) and Utilities (+600).

Employment in the Services-producing sector decreased by 2,500. The greatest losses were in Information, culture and recreation (-900) and Other services (except public administration) (-700).

“Now more than ever we need to implement creative solutions to grow our region's workforce. As the Stratford -Bruce Peninsula continues to experience economic strength the demand for workers is palpable,” says Gemma Mendez-Smith, executive director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.

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