Stratford area experienced largest employment loss of the year in August

It’s a mixed bag when it comes to our local jobs numbers.

The Four County Labour Market Planning Board says the unemployment rate in the Stratford Bruce Peninsula Economic Region went up from 3.6 to 3.9 per cent last month.

While it’s the largest employment loss so far this year the economic region is still home to the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario.

Officials say there were full-time position losses combined with part-time gains which may have been caused by many summer jobs coming to an end and students heading back to school.

At the same time, the provincial unemployment rate dropped to 8.6%.