The unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties jumped to 3.7 per cent in August.
That’s up from 2.8 per cent in July.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region had the largest percentage increase in its unemployment rate of all regions in Ontario last month. But at the same time, the 3.7 per cent jobless rate in our area is still the lowest in the province.
The higher regional unemployment rate came even as 200 new full-time jobs and 1,500 part-time positions were created in August. But the size of the labour force increased by more than 3,300 workers, driving up the jobless number.
The utilities (+1,800), agriculture (+1,800), professional, scientific and technical services (+1,400), information, culture and recreation services (+1,000) and accommodation and food services (+900) sectors led the job gains last month.
While the wholesale and retail trade (-2,200), finance, insurance and real estate (-800), transportation and warehousing (-700), construction (-300) and manufacturing (-100) industries had employment declines.
The broader labour market showed some signs of weakness in August as well. Ontario’s unemployment rate increased to 7.1 per cent. While the national jobless rate was 6.6 per cent, slightly higher than the number in July (6.4%).