Numbers published by StatsCan last Friday indicate the seasonally adjusted three month moving average unemployment rate for Guelph was 4.7% in August. This compares to the Canadian average of 7.3%. With a labour force of 82,500, according to these numbers, 3,900 people are looking for work in Guelph. Last Friday's numbers were the best reported since June 2008, prior to the recent recession. Between August 2009 and August 2010, unemployment in Guelph averaged 6,900 people.
Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge have an unemployment rate of 6.2% with 18,300 people seeking employment in a labour force of 408,500. Brantford has 6,900 unemployed for a similar sized market to Guelph.
New businesses moving to Guelph and many manufacturers hiring over the past 6 months have made a big difference in the local employment numbers. Guelph manufacturers are going further afield to find welders and experienced CNC operators. Construction and health care have also been active locally and across Ontario. Innovation Guelph and the Guelph Wellington Business Enterprise Centre have been busy with business startups in the past year as well as the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.
Comments