Unemployment in Stratford-to-Bruce-Peninsula economic region took a slight dip in April.
According to the Four Market Labour Planning Board, unemployment for the month in the region was 6.1 percent.
That is down a half-a-percentage point of 6.6 in March and down a full percentage point of 7.1 in February.
The provincial unemployment rate was down to 8.7 percent.
Overall net employment in the region increased by 3,300, with 6,800 full-time gains and a loss of 3,500 part-time jobs.
The planning board says the change shows a greater sign of economic recovery and resilience in the local labour market despite being in a third provincial shutdown.
The number of Goods-producing sector employees increased by net 2,700.
The main driving force came from significant gains in Construction (1,500) and Manufacturing (1,400).
Employment in the Services-producing sector also increased by net 600.
The greatest losses were in Wholesale and retail trade (-2,900) while the most gains came from Educational services (1,500) and Accommodation and food services (2,200).
The board’s Executive Director Gemma Mendez-Smith says they continue to see recovery in accommodation and food services with increases now surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
But she says others like agriculture, wholesale, and retail trade are still feeling the effects of the pandemic.
