Brantford-Brant’s workforce grew in May as a result of more people looking for and finding employment last month.

The local jobless rate climbed to 6.7 per cent in May, up from April’s 6.5 per cent, according to seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada. The participation and employment rates rose even more significantly.

Statistics Canada estimated that an additional 1,700 people entered the Brantford area’s labour market in May, and 1,400 found employment.

Meanwhile, across Canada, the unemployment rate rose 0.1 per centage point to 7%, marking the highest rate since September 2016 (excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021). Ontario’s unemployment, too, rate climbed slightly to 7.9%.

Month-over-month, local employment grew most significantly in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors. Meanwhile, transportation and warehousing saw the largest decrease since April, but employment in this industry remains high compared to May 2024.

“The uncertainty continues,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie. “We encourage local employers that are considering staffing changes to connect with the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie (or the Employment Ontario network) to ensure that affected employees are supported every step of the way.”

Dalton also noted that the Employment Ontario network is a great resource for employers looking to train/upskill their workforce as business needs evolve.

The planning board’s online job board, Grand Erie Jobs, saw a 15% decrease in new job postings in May, after months of consistent increases. However, active postings also decreased, indicating that many employers found suitable hires.

“We are hearing that some employers have paused hiring or are considering downsizing amidst shifts in the economic landscape, but many others – especially in the public sector and in service-providing businesses – continue to hire,” Dalton said.

Grand Erie Jobs recorded over 1,100 employers hiring from across the Grand Erie region in May. The Top-5 postings were for retail salespersons, home support workers, material handlers, food counter attendants and registered nurses.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the April 2025 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.