unemployment Archives - Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie

Brantford area jobless rate fell in November

by WPBGE | Dec 9, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Brantford jobs data for November 2025 showed that unemployment fell by almost one per cent, but the percentage of people working dropped by an identical amount.

Last month’s Brantford-Brant’s jobless rate was 9 per cent, down from October’s 9.9 per cent, while the employment rate declined to 61.9 per cent, as several thousand people left the labour force, according to the latest seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada.

“The decrease in the November 2025 unemployment rate may appear encouraging at first glance, but the reality is more complex,” said Workforce Planning Board Executive Director Danette Dalton.

“The rise in the number of residents stepping out of the labour force shows the difficult circumstances many people are facing.”

The number of Brantford area residents not in the labour force – neither working nor looking for work – jumped by an estimated 2,400 in November. The labour force shrunk even as population grew by 300.

Local agencies can help

“As economic challenges continue, we are fortunate to have many organizations, known as service providers, in Grand Erie (Brantford, Brant, Six Nations, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Haldimand and Norfolk) working to support job seekers with career coaching, skill building, resume writing, interview preparation, and more,” Dalton said.

“Online tools on the Workforce Planning Board website such Workforce Gateway and Newcomers Gateway help residents find and connect with employment service providers close to home.”

Canada added 54,000 jobs in November – the third straight month growth – dropping the national unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent. The majority of last month’s job growth came from youth, ages 15 to 24, in part-time work. Ontario’s jobless rate fell to 7.3 per cent as fewer people looked for work.

Dalton said the planning board’s website also houses Grand Erie Jobs, which includes the area’s most comprehensive job board, with more than 1,000 positions at any given time.

“It’s important that job seekers know that they aren’t alone, now or at any time,” she said.

“There’s a large network of community agencies, training providers and schools that offer so much more than job search help. They can help build someone’s confidence, enhance their skills, add to their education, access job training and open up new career pathways

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

Brantford area jobless rate close to 10%

by WPBGE | Nov 7, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Brantford jobs in October 2025 saw a decline as the job market recorded the highest unemployment rate in Ontario, just shy of 10% – the highest it’s been since the pandemic.

Last month’s Brantford-Brant jobless rate was 9.9 per cent, up 0.2 per cent from September, continuing an upwards trend, according Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted estimates, which are based on a three-month moving average.

By contrast, the unemployment rate dropped in Ontario and nationally. Canada saw employment growth of 67,000 and the jobless rate fell to 6.9 per cent. Most of the employment gains, 55,000 positions, were in Ontario, which recorded a 7.6 per cent unemployment rate. It was the first sizeable employment gains in the province since June.

Brantford-Brant for many months saw its employment and unemployment steadily increase in tandem. In the six-month period from March to September, the number of employed residents climbed 5,300, while those unemployed grew by 4,100.

Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, said that trend ended in October. Local employment fell and unemployment grew.

“It’s been alarming to see so many of our residents – our friends and neighbours – become unemployed,” Dalton said. “The silver lining, if we can call it that, has been that so many people have been able to find jobs up to now. Until now, there have been more gains than losses in Brantford jobs.”

Unemployed residents will need help

Dalton said those gains may have partially disguised how serious unemployment has become.

“Figures we’re seeing now, with an estimated 9,800 people unemployed and a jobless rate almost 10 per cent, flashes back to the summer of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic created lots of job losses,” she said.

“Like then, our community is going to need a lot of help, including mental health supports. As we approach the holiday season, the stresses on unemployed people and their families will likely increase. It’s a time to be generous in whatever way we can.”

The Workforce Planning Board’s job board, Grand Erie Jobs, saw about 1,650 new jobs in October, down 10% from the month prior.

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

Brantford area job market mixed news

by WPBGE | Oct 15, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

September 2025 job numbers showed that Brantford-Brant’s labour force continues to grow, but fewer people are finding work.

The Brantford area unemployment rate rose to 9.7 per cent in September, up from August’s 9.4 per cent, according to the latest seasonally adjusted estimates, released by Statistics Canada.

About 600 more people looked for work over the past month, with 200 finding employment.

Nationwide, September 2025 figures showed that unemployment remained unchanged at 7.1 per cent, while Ontario saw an increase of 0.2 percentage points, to 7.9 per cent last month.

Unemployment in Brantford-Brant remains high compared to neighbouring communities. Across Ontario, only Windsor’s jobless rate was higher, at 10.4 per cent.

In Norfolk County, about 1,400 more people gained employment over the last 3 months. The county’s unemployment rate has decreased consistently since May, and stood at 3.7 per cent as of August 2025.

More people working year over year

While unemployment has increased across the Brantford area, over 7,000 more people were working last month, compared to September 2024.

The biggest growth has been within the construction and manufacturing sectors, particularly amongst trades, transport and equipment operator roles; this occupational group gained 1,100 employees month-over-month. Employment in the healthcare sector has also been climbing steadily since April this year.

Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s executive director, said that there’s been a growing number of postings for part-time work.

“This may open up options for students, parents, newcomers and others who may be unable to work full-time. It also means more opportunities for employers to collaborate on offering positions jointly to create full-time jobs,” she said.

“Especially in times of economic uncertainty, there is great benefit in seeking out partnerships and connections with the larger business community,” Dalton said. “We encourage businesses to connect with local employment service providers, chamber of commerce groups and industry associations to learn from each other and share resources.”

The Workforce Planning Board’s job board, Grand Erie Jobs, saw 1,850 new job posts in September, up 2% from the month prior.

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

Brantford area jobless rate at 5-year high

by WPBGE | Sep 5, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

August employment numbers saw Brantford-Brant record its highest jobless rate in five years, as additional people sought work.

The local unemployment rate jumped 1.6 per cent in August to 9.4 per cent, the highest it has been since August 2020 during the pandemic when it hit 11 per cent, according to Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted figures.

Canada’s August unemployment rate climbed to 7.1 per cent due to a loss of 66,000 jobs, most of which were part time. Ontario lost an estimated 26,000 jobs, but August’s unemployment rate fell to 7.7 per cent as fewer people searched for work.

Contrary to Canada as a whole, Brantford-Brant did not lose jobs in August. And contrary to Ontario, more people were searching for work in the Brantford area last month.

About 2,000 additional people entered the local labour force in August, but there weren’t enough jobs for them. The number of unemployed residents jumped by an estimated 1,800 – the largest one month increase since the 2020 pandemic – while employment increased by 400.

“It’s a tough job market out there right now and there’s another 1,800 residents who need support from the community,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director.

Dalton said that since January, the number of unemployed residents in Brantford-Brant has increased by about 4,800, while the number of employed also increased by 4,800.

“It’s a very unusual situation. But the main takeaway is that there’s a lot of people who need help finding work and possibly accessing training, retraining, or financial and other supports,” she said.

Dalton pointed to one sign that more people are looking for work and that there’s greater competition for jobs. The number of visits to the Workforce Planning Board’s online job board, Grand Erie Jobs, doubled last month to more than 9,000, yet the number of job ads was the same as July.

Dalton added that Southern Ontario communities such as Windsor and Oshawa that have automotive-related manufacturers, as does Brantford-Brant, have been impacted by U.S. tariffs and have also had big jumps in their jobless rates.

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

Influx of new job seekers continues

by WPBGE | Aug 8, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

July employment numbers showed that the Brantford-Brant labour market continues to see major changes, with an influx of job seekers causing shifts, both positive and negative.

For the fifth month in a row, the local labour force grew dramatically in July, increasing the number of employed and unemployed residents at the same time and pushing up the monthly jobless rate.

July saw the Brantford-Brant unemployment rate jump to 7.8 per cent, up from June’s 7 per cent, according to the latest seasonally adjusted estimates, released by Statistics Canada.

The local jobless rate is just shy of Ontario’s July unemployment rate of 7.9 per cent, but almost a full percentage point above the Canadian 6.9 per cent average.

July 2025 employment figures also showed that Brantford-Brant had the highest jobless rate in July compared to neighbouring labour markets, with the next closest being Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo at 7.3 per cent.

“More people are participating in the local labour market, but it is typical that not all those people find jobs and that pushes up the unemployment rate,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director.

“Since March, an estimated 6,800 people have joined the labour force, with 4,700 finding employment. And while it is terrible that 2,000 people didn’t find work, overall, our economy has gained jobs even in the midst of so much global uncertainty. That is no small achievement.”

Dalton said there’s no single reason that explains the recent influx of people into the labour market.

Factors could include population growth, a drop in self-employment, perhaps with some of those people looking for steady paycheques, and a higher cost of living prompting others to search for work, she said.

“The big increase in unemployed residents – 2,000 more since March and 3,000 since January – reinforces the need for more supports for individuals, from the community and governments,” she said. “Local employment services are facing much higher caseloads.”

The Workforce Planning Board’s job board, Grand Erie Jobs, saw a similar number of posts last month as in June, with more than 1,800 new jobs advertised by about 1,000 employers.

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

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