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Local unemployment rate lowest in Canada

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Brantford and Brant County had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada in November.

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After setting a new low this century of 3.2 per cent in October, Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate dropped last month to 3.1 per cent, according to seasonally-adjusted estimates released Friday by Statistics Canada.

And Labour Force Survey data also indicate Brantford-Brant had the lowest unemployment rate among all census metropolitan areas in Canada in November.

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Year over year, the jobless rate decreased by 3.9 per cent, with 2,700 fewer people unemployed since November 2018.

Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate is significantly lower than surrounding regions, which range from 4.8 per cent in Hamilton to seven per cent in Windsor.

Meanwhile, both Ontario’s and Canada’s unemployment rose to 5.6 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively.

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The employment rate and participation rate in Brantford-Brant also have been declining. Statistics Canada’s “not in the labour force” data suggests that since July, 5,200 additional residents are neither working nor actively looking for work.

Employment for those aged between 15 and 24 in Brantford-Brant decreased over the last four months, while the number of adults between 55 and 64 who are working has steadily increased since the beginning of the year.

A substantial portion of employment growth is in part-time work.

The declining labour force poses new hiring and retention challenges for businesses, said Wynona Mendes, labour market analyst for the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

Local employers are encouraged to share their top concerns in the EmployerOne Survey that will be released at the beginning of January by the planning board, one of 26 non-profit organizations that play a leadership role in labour force planning.

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