The local unemployment rates went in the opposite direction of both the national and provincial numbers in September, rising three-tenths of a point.
The September rate for the Belleville Census Metropolitan Area, which includes Belleville, Quinte West, Tyendinaga and Stirling-Rawdon, was 7%, up from 6.7% in August.
The national unemployment rate fell to 6.9% last month, down from 7.1% the month before.
The local figure is still lower than the provincial number even though Ontario’s 7.3% September unemployment rate was down from 7.6% in August.
Statistics Canada says the country’s economy added 157,000 jobs in September, bringing employment back to pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
