The regional unemployment rate in the area that includes Bruce and Grey counties fell to 4.5 per cent in February.
It’s a decline from 4.8 per cent in January. The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says there were more than 1,300 new full-time positions created in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula region last month.
The full-time job gains were partially offset by some losses in part-time work.
The manufacturing sector experienced the biggest job gains, with more than 2,900 new positions. There were also employment gains in the health care and social assistance (+1,500), building and other support services (+700) and public administration (+500) industries.
Jobs were lost in the finance, insurance and real estate (-800), forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying (-700), accommodation and food services (-600) and information, culture and recreation sectors (-400).
The region’s labour force participation rate as unchanged in February.
Ontario’s jobless rate increased to 6.1 per cent last month. Nationally, the number edged up to 5.8 per cent.
