Barrie’s unemployment rate remains among the highest in Canada: StatsCan
Barrie has the fourth highest unemployment rate among major Canadian cities, according to the latest jobs report released by Statistics Canada July 6.
The unemployment rate for Barrie hit 6.9 per cent in June, trailing only St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (8.6), Calgary, Alberta (7.7) and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (seven).
However, Barrie’s rate has declined steadily over the last four months — it sat at 8.8 in March, 8.4 in April and 7.4 in May. The city’s jobless rate has been on a roller-coaster ride over the last year, going from one of the lowest in Canada in December 2017 to among the highest only a few months later.
“Notwithstanding we’re still among the higher rates in Canada, this is the third strong monthly jobs report in a row for Barrie,” Mayor Jeff Lehman said. “Barrie’s unemployment rate … is down by almost a full two per cent in three months.”
About 1,000 new jobs were created in the city in June, Lehman said.
“That’s huge,” he said. “This was actually one of the strongest monthly jobs report we’ve seen in years.”
The federal unemployment rate was 5.9 per cent, up from 5.8 in May. Ontario’s unemployment numbers also inched up, from 5.6 in May to 5.7 in June.