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Brantford-Brant’s workforce grew as a result of more people looking for and finding work in May.
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The local jobless rate climbed to 6.7 per cent last month, up from April’s 6.5 per cent, according to seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada.
The participation and employment rates rose even more significantly. Statistics Canada estimated that an additional 1,700 people entered the Brantford area’s labour market in May, and 1,400 found employment.
Meanwhile, across Canada, the unemployment rate rose 0.1 per cent, to seven per cent, marking the highest rate since September 2016 (excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021).
Ontario’s unemployment rate climbed slightly to 7.9 per cent.
Month-over-month, local employment grew most significantly in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors. Meanwhile, transportation and warehousing saw the largest decrease since April, but employment in this industry remains high compared to May 2024.
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“The uncertainty continues,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie. “We encourage local employers who are considering staffing changes to connect with the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie to ensure that affected employees are supported every step of the way.”
Dalton also noted the Employment Ontario network is a great resource for employers looking to train/upskill their workforce as business needs evolve.
The planning board’s online job board, Grand Erie Jobs, saw a 15 per cent decrease in new job postings in May, after months of consistent increases. However, active postings also decreased, indicating that many employers found suitable hires.
“We are hearing that some employers have paused hiring or are considering downsizing amidst shifts in the economic landscape, but many others – especially in the public sector and in service-providing businesses – continue to hire,” said Dalton.
Grand Erie Jobs recorded more than 1,100 employers hiring from across the Grand Erie region in May. The Top 5 postings were for retail salespersons, home support workers, material handlers, food counter attendants, and registered nurses.
The Workforce Planning Board is one of 26 non-profit organizations in Ontario that play a leadership role in labour force planning. The Workforce Planning Board is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
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