Director of Hastings County Community and Human Services Erin Rivers (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
There has been a drop in the number of people on social assistance benefits in Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West.
Statistics show a more than 7.4% drop in the Ontario Works caseload to the end of June, compared to the same time in 2016.
That means 233 fewer people on the benefits than at the same time last year, for a total of 2,909, as of the end of June.
Community and Human Services director Erin Rivers.
#1 ERIN ONT WORKS
Meanwhile the Employment Connection program placed 142 Ontario Works participants in jobs during the month of June.
The average wage was $12.46 an hour.
Forty-five percent of the employment was for general labour, with jobs in manufacturing at 15% and retail at 12%.
In June of last year the number of jobs in retail was much higher at 35%, and 28% labour-related.
Statistics show 3.74% of the population in this area is receiving social assistance.
