Staff Report
BRANT NEWS

Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate climbed in August as more people returned to the labour force.

August’s local unemployment rate was 8.6 per cent, up almost a full point from 7.7 per cent in July, according to Statistics Canada numbers released by BrantJobs on Friday.

Brant’s unemployment rate continues to be above the Ontario and national averages. Ontario’s unemployment rate was eight per cent in August, while the national rate stood at 7.3 per cent.

August saw 1,000 more people return to Brantford-Brant’s labour force, but there weren’t jobs for all of them. While 300 people became employed, 700 were listed as unemployed.

“The numbers tell a mixed story,” said Jill Halyk, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie. “It’s encouraging to see more people return to the job market, but right now we just don’t have enough positions to satisfy the demand.”

Halyk said there are encouraging signs showing a demand for workers, especially skilled ones.

BrantJobs posted 491 jobs in August, a high for the past year. More than half the jobs were full-time and there was a jump in manufacturing jobs posted. BrantJobs has seen high demand for home health-care workers, skilled trades in manufacturing, equipment operators, as well as in sales and retail.

BrantJobs is a service of the City of Brantford and County of Brant, providing a broad range of employment solutions to local employers and job seekers.