In February the unemployment rate for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region increased 0.8 percent to 7.1%.
At the same time the Provincial unemployment rate increased to 9.3% both unadjusted for seasonality. The data was from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board in Walkerton.
The number of goods producing sector employees actually increased by 800. The main drivers came from Utilities and Manufacturing which offset the losses in the Agricultural and Construction sector.
The losses for the period came in the service producing sector with the greatest losses in wholesale and retail and other services excluding administration.
Gains in the services were seen in education and health care and social assistance. The gains couldn’t offset the losses with net losses of 2400 jobs.
