The regional unemployment rate which includes Bruce and Grey counties rose for the first time in five months in July.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region’s unemployment rate rose by 0.4 per cent to 2.8 per cent last month. The provincial unemployment rate increased by 0.2 per cent, now at 7.1 per cent.
As the overall population in the region increased by 400 last month, the labour force also grew significantly by 4,700. The growth resulted in the size of the population not participating the labour force to decrease by 4,400.
“This drove the participation rate up by 1.6 percentage points to 61.4 per cent. The growth in labour force size partly explained the increase in unemployment rate in July,” says the board.
The total employment size last month grew by about 3,900, resulting in 5,200 full-time employment gains. This was partly offset by 1,400 part-time losses.
Utilizes experienced the largest percentage gain last month with 16.9 per cent, this was followed by agriculture at 13.3 per cent and construction at 3.4 per cent. Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, however, experienced another large loss of 15.8 per cent, as well as manufacturing at 2.5 per cent.
Employment in professional, scientific and technical services saw the largest percentage increase again this month at 33.7 per cent. Information culture and recreation followed with a 22.2 per cent increase, and accommodation and food services followed behind at 8.6 per cent.
The biggest percentage loss came from education at 11.9 per cent. Business, building and other support services also saw a decrease of 10.9 per cent. Healthcare and social assistance experienced a 4.3 per cent decrease as well.
The board says current job postings in Grey, Bruce, Huron, and Perth counties can be found on the Connect2Jobs website here.