The latest labour force statistics released Friday show that the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region, which includes Huron County, continues to have one of the tightest labour markets in Ontario for employers.

“Our local labour market is unlike almost anywhere else in the province,” says Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. “The combination of extremely low unemployment and a declining participation rate creates unique challenges for employers in Huron County, and it’s why the Chamber continues to focus on workforce issues as a top priority.”

In July, the region’s unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from June, and now sits at roughly half of the provincial average of 8.0 percent. This puts our region, alongside Northwest Ontario, at the lowest unemployment rate in the province.

While this sounds like good news – and for jobseekers, it is – there’s another side to the story. The participation rate, which measures the share of people aged 15 and over who are working or actively looking for work, declined again, dropping a full percentage point to 58.7 percent. This means fewer people overall are engaged in the labour market, even as job vacancies remain high.

The local picture stands in sharp contrast to nearby urban centres like London and Kitchener-Waterloo, where larger and more fluid labour markets can make it easier for employers to find staff with unemployment rates of 6.4% and 6.5% respectively. Here in Huron County, employers are competing for a relatively small pool of available workers—and that pool is shrinking.

As we explored in our recent article, Why Is It So Hard to Find Workers in Huron County, this combination of low unemployment and low participation is a defining feature of our region’s economy. It’s one reason why attracting and retaining workers is such a pressing challenge for local businesses, and why strategic workforce planning remains a top priority. To make matters worse, a general lack of available housing and public transportation make it difficult for employers to bring labour into Huron County from areas with available workers.

The July data also reveal sector-specific shifts:

  • Goods-producing industries saw modest overall growth (+700 jobs), driven largely by manufacturing (+1,500 jobs, +6.2 percent) and agriculture (+400 jobs, +4.8 percent).
  • Services-producing industries experienced a decline (-3,100 jobs), with the largest losses in education services, finance/real estate, and business support services. However, professional, scientific, and technical services posted strong gains (+1,900 jobs, +16.8 percent), alongside growth in transportation, public administration, and other service categories.

“Our rate remains steady at the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario this month,” says Dana Soucie, Executive Director for the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. “When looking at various indicators, especially our participation rate, actively engaging in retention and attraction strategies is extremely important for our region. With the current economic uncertainties, we will likely continue to see constant changes.”

The Huron Chamber of Commerce continues to work with local and regional partners on labour market challenges, attending numerous meetings and round tables with municipalities, workforce agencies, educational institutions, and economic development leaders to ensure the employer perspective is well represented. Addressing workforce shortages and helping businesses adapt to changing labour market conditions remains one of our core priorities, as we work to strengthen the towns and villages where we live and work.

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The Huron Chamber of Commerce is one of Canada’s fastest growing Chambers, connecting community leaders since 1990. Representing businesses across eight Huron County municipalities, the Chamber focuses on growing the local economy, supporting business success, and strengthening our towns and villages. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Chamber advocates for business and community interests, facilitates collaboration, and convenes stakeholders to develop and support a vibrant and thriving county.