The unemployment rate for the Belleville Census Metropolitan Area increased significantly in December but remains well below the national and provincial rates.
The number for the Belleville Census Metropolitan Area, which includes Belleville, Quinte West, Deseronto-Tyendinaga and Stirling-Rawdon, rose to 3.3 per cent in December, up from November’s 1.8.
The national rate was 6.7 per cent, down 0.1 percentage point from November.
Ontario’s unemployment rate also fell one-tenth from 7.6 to 7.5 per cent.
The local numbers, however, are not necessarily indicative of the current job market across the region.
Last month, Quinte Economic Development Commission CEO Chris King told Quinte News that the current sample size for the Belleville CMA is not accurate which is why numbers are fluctuating so much.
He says the Labour Force Survey is being redesigned in 2025 and will be based on 2021 census data, which should reduce variability.
