​November unemployment rate decreases to 3.9 per cent in region

Employment in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula economic region increased by 4,600 (+2.7 per cent) in November, with gains in part-time employment (16.1 per cent; 4,800) partially offset by losses in full-time employment (0.1 per cent; 200).

That's the word from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.

Last month, the unemployment rate in the region decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 3.9 per cent. Meanwhile, the provincial unemployment rate decreased 0.7 percentage points to 7.2 per cent, both unadjusted for seasonality.

Employment decreased in the goods-producing sector (2.9 per cent; 2,000) yet increased in the services-producing sector (6.5 per cent; 6,600).

In November, the region’s overall population, aged 15-plus, increased by 200; whereas, the labour force size increased by 3,900 people, resulting in the number of people not in the labour force in the region to decrease by 3,700. This increased the region’s participation rate by 1.2 percentage points to 61.8 per cent, the highest it has been so far in the calendar year.

The goods-producing sector saw a decrease in overall employment numbers in November (2,000, 2.9 per cent), with the biggest losses in manufacturing (-3,500, -16.4 per cent), followed by construction (-1,100, -4.3 per cent).

On the other hand, agriculture experienced an employment increase (+1,700, +18.7 per cent) alongside utilities (+800, +7.1 per cent).

Overall employment in the services-producing sector saw an increase of 6.5% (6,600 people) in November. Business, building and other support services experienced the largest percentage growth (+700, +14.9 per cent) in employment, followed by educational services (+900, +12.5 per cent), wholesale and retail trade (+2,100, +10.4 per cent) and other services (except public administration) (+800, +9.4 per cent) and finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+400, +9.1 per cent).

“This is the highest participation rate we have seen this year which is a great sign,” says Dana Soucie, executive director of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. “We will continue to monitor other sectors for seasonality and annual fluctuations.”

Current job postings for the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth region have increased over time since the pandemic and can be found at employmentbghs.ca/jobs. The current number of job postings currently exceeds 1,400.