The national unemployment rate was down slightly in September while the local rate rose.
Statistics Canada says the economy posted a modest gain of 21,000 jobs in September.
The agency’s latest labour force survey shows the unemployment rate two-tenths of a point to 5.2% last month as fewer people looked for work.
It comes after three consecutive months of job losses.
The gain in employment was expected as job losses in the education sector during the summer were reversed with the reopening of schools.
Locally the unemployment rate for the Belleville Census Metropolitan Area was 6.5%t in September, up from 5% the month before.
The Belleville CMA includes Belleville, Quinte West, Tyendinaga/Deseronto, and Stirling-Rawdon.
Last month’s rate is still half a percentage point lower than September 2021.
In Ontario, the unemployment rate for September increased one-tenth to 5.8%.
(With files from the Canadian Press)
