Regional Unemployment Rate Decreases to 3.6% in September

Walkerton, ON (October 9, 2026) – In September, the unemployment rate in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 3.6%, the lowest reported monthly unemployment rate in the Region since November 2024. Meanwhile, the provincial unemployment rate remained unchanged this month at 7.3%, both unadjusted for seasonality. Total employment in the Region fell by 2,200 (-1.3%) to 164,700 with losses in both full-time employment (-500; -0.4%) and part-time employment (-1,600; -5.7%).

In September, the Region’s overall population aged 15+ increased by 500 whereas the labour force size decreased by 3,100 people. The number of people not in the labour force in the Region increased by 3,500. This in turn reduced the Region’s participation rate by 1.2 percentage points down to 56.2%. Employment in the Region increased in the services-producing sector (+1.3%; +1,400) yet decreased the goods-producing sector once again this month (-6.0%; -3,600). 

Read the full news release on our website: September Unemployment Rate - Four County Labour Market Planning Board