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For the second straight month, the local jobless rate has increased after more people entered the job market.
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The November unemployment rate for Brantford and Brant County is estimated at 7.6 per cent, up from 7.2 per cent in October, based on a Statistics Canada survey of residents conducted Nov. 7 to 13.
The spike in the jobless rate was due to an additional 500 people entering the labor force, not because of overall job losses, since the local employment rate held steady at 61.7 per cent in November.
The unemployment rate in Norfolk for November was 8.9 per cent.
Across Canada, employment grew by an impressive 154,000 jobs, dropping the national monthly jobless rate to six per cent. Almost half of the job earnings took place in Ontario, which added 68,000 jobs and saw its unemployment rate shrink to 6.4 per cent – the lowest since pre-pandemic February 2020.
The local labor force has swelled by 1,300 people since September, while the number of people working has remained unchanged.
“It is considered a good sign when people join or rejoin the labor force,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board. “But it could take time for these new job seekers to find work that matches their skills and experience.”
Employment grew locally in several industries, led by the retail trade, which has seen job gains of 1,600 since September. These gains have been offset by job losses in other industries, particularly in manufacturing.
Job losses have been more pronounced for young workers, aged 15 to 24, but the figures suggest that many left full-time work over the past couple of months to go to school.
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Over the last several months, employment has fallen for men aged 45 and older but has increased for men, aged 25 to 44.
Employment for women has been steadier, except for fewer women aged 15 to 24 who are working, partly due to some returning to school. Enrollment in post-secondary programs is higher among females.
There were about 3,200 new jobs listed in November on Grand Erie Jobs, the job board operated by the planning board. The No. 1 job posted was material handler, followed by general farm worker. Many farmers try to recruit workers in autumn for work starting next spring.
Other top in-demand jobs include retail salespersons, home support workers, cooks, customer service representatives, nurses and retail managers.
The Workforce Planning Board is one of 26 non-profit organizations in Ontario that play a leadership role in labor force planning. The board is funded, in part, by the federal and provincial governments.