January 2024 employment numbers for Brantford-Brant showed a slight increase in the local jobless rate.
Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate last month was 4.9%, up from December’s 4.3, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey figures, which were released Friday.
Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7% last month, while Ontario’s rate was unchanged at 6.2%.
There were signs in January that local employers were looking to fill more positions, and that 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’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.”
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 every business owner and individual these days. It will be important
to focus on resiliency moving forward.
January saw 2,075 new job posts – a 32% 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.
However, retail salesperson remained the most advertised job, with 108, while secondary school teachers and food service supervisors also made the Top 5.
Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the January 2024 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.
