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Published Sep 09, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 2 minute read
According to the region’s most recent job report, the construction sector saw the biggest gain in employment in August. (Cory Smith/Beacon Herald file photo) jpg, SF, apsmcArticle content
The unemployment rate in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region experienced a slight increase in August, according to new numbers from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
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The unemployment rate rose 0.8 per cent last month to 4.9 per cent across the region, planning board officials said. In total, the region experienced a decrease of 2,600 people in overall employment.
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The region still has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the province, coming in second behind northern Ontario. The rate is significantly lower than the provincial average, which rose 0.3 points to 8.3 per cent, with both of those numbers being unadjusted for seasonality.
“Our rate is in line with both seasonal norms and the provincial trends this month,” said Dana Soucie, the Four County Labour Market Planning Board’s executive director.
The rise in the local unemployment rate coincided with a national rise. Across the country, Canada lost 66,000 jobs in August, resulting in an unemployment rate that rose 0.2 points to 7.1 per cent. The number of Canadians working also fell by about 0.2 points, with just fewer than 21-million Canadians now being employed.
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The percentage of people employed locally was slightly behind the rest of the county at just 58.2 per cent. This was driven by an increase of 300 people aged 15 or older, and a labour force size that dropped by 1,300 people. These changes also increased the number of people not in the labour force by 1,600.
While there was an increase of about 200 full-time jobs, about 2,800 losses in part-time employment were recorded in the region.
The goods-producing sector saw its employment rate increase 3.8 per cent (or 2,500 people) last month, with the biggest gain being a 27.2 per cent increase (4,600 people) in construction, followed by a 3.1 per cent (800 people) increase in manufacturing. However, utilities experienced its third consecutive month of job losses after dropping by 2,500 jobs (17.1 per cent).
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In contrast, the services sector saw a 5.2 per cent dip (5,100 people) last month. The biggest loss (23.1 per cent or 1,800 people) was experienced in the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing field. This was followed by educational services, which dropped 18 per cent (1,100 people), and public administration, which fell by 16.4 per cent (90 people) Wholesale and retail experienced a 12.3 per cent decrease and lost the highest number of workers overall at 2,700.
However, there were some gains in this sector. Business, building and other support services experienced the biggest percentage growth in employment in August at 18.5 per cent (500 people). This was followed by information, culture and recreation, which increased by 600 people (1.5 per cent). Other services, except public administration, also increased by 12.5 per cent (300 people) while professional, scientific and technical services saw a small increase of 2.3 per cent (300 people).
Employment remained unchanged in the health-care and social assistance sector.
“The numbers show positive signs that our region is weathering the economic changes at this time, and we will follow the sectors that show concerns as we move forward,” Soucie said.
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