The Brantford area jobless rate started off the year slightly higher compared with the strong finish in December.
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Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate in January was 4.9 per cent, up from December’s 4.3 per cent, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly labor force survey figures, which were released Friday.
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Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7 per cent last month, while Ontario’s rate was unchanged at 6.2 per cent.
There were signs in January that local employers were looking to fill more positions, and more people were searching for work.
“Continued economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions and the end of seasonal work are the likely culprits for the percentage increase,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s executive director. “We have seen a somewhat consistent trend at the start of every new year with an increase in the jobless rate as seasonal work wraps up and businesses prepare for the new year.”
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Dalton said in addition to the new year employment trend, there is a struggle to balance affordability and sustainability, which is on the minds of business owners and individuals. She said it will be important to focus on resilience moving forward.
January saw 2,075 new job posts – a 32 per cent increase over December – on Grand Erie Jobs, the online job board run by the Workforce Planning Board. Meanwhile, the number of job seekers clicking on job posts doubled.
The largest share of advertised jobs was in the health care and social assistance field, with 100 postings for nurses, 100 for home support workers, 60 for licensed practical nurses, and another 60 for social and community service workers.
Retail salesperson remained the most advertised job, with 108 postings, with secondary school teachers and food service supervisors also making the Top 5.
The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie is one of 26 non-profit organizations in Ontario that play a leadership role in labor force planning. It is funded, in part, by the federal and provincial governments.
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