Job creation and labour growth up; Mayor Lehman

Jeff Lehman wants to see job growth keep pace with labour force growth

Barrie’s jobless rate last month crept up slightly from the month before.

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate in the city inched a tenth of a percentage point to 7% on the nose. It was at 6.3% this time last year.

Employment in Barrie grew by 2,300 from June to July while the labour force was up by 2,700 people.

“Good news, bad news” says Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. “Tons of job creation in July, but labour force growth in the region (including Springwater and Innisfil in Barrie reports) was even faster, which kept the unemployment rate where it is. We do want to see job growth keeping pace with labour force growth, but the fact that both are growing so fast also reflects the strength of the local economy and markets.”

The provincial jobless rate of 5.7% and the federal one of 5.9% did not move from June to July.