Niagara Region’s employment levels dropped by 10,000 workers in July

The latest data, direct from Statistics Canada, show a dip in Niagara Region of nearly 10,000 workers.

The June employment number was 228,200 region-wide and that dropped to 218,500 through July.

The employment numbers for this year were highest in April with a peak of 232,600.

Statistics Canada defined a “labour force” as any people aged 15-64 who are either working or actively seeking work (meaning ready and available to be employed) and those numbers in Niagara dropped by 9,200 to 229,700 during June.

The government information agency said Niagara’s unemployment rate climbed slightly to 4.9 per cent from last month’s 4.5 per cent but was still well below March’s 6.2 per cent.

“Participation and employment rates also dropped, indicating some people choosing to leave the workforce.”

At the national level, employment was little changed (-31,000) in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 per cent. Employment declined among older and core-aged women, while it was up among older men.

On a national scale, at the industry level, a decline in the services-producing sector was offset by an increase in the goods-producing sector. A decrease in the number of employees working in the public sector was tempered by a gain among self-employed workers.