'Alarming': Brantford-Brant's jobless rate of 9.9 per cent highest in Ontario

Brantford-Brant Experiences Highest Unemployment Rate in Ontario

The jobless rate in Brantford-Brant reached 9.9% in October, marking the highest in Ontario and a level not seen since the pandemic began. This is a slight increase of 0.2% from September, according to Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted estimates based on a three-month moving average.

Community Impact and Concerns

Danette Dalton, Executive Director at the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, expressed concern over the rising unemployment.

“It’s been alarming to see so many of our residents – our friends and neighbours – become unemployed.”
“Figures we’re seeing now, with an estimated 9,800 people unemployed and a jobless rate of almost 10 per cent, flashes back to the summer of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic created lots of job losses.”
“Like then, our community is going to need a lot of help, including mental health supports. As we approach the holiday season, the stresses on unemployed people and their families will likely increase. It’s a time to be generous in whatever way we can.”

Provincial and National Employment Trends

While unemployment rose locally, the rate decreased across Ontario to 7.6% and nationally to 6.9%. Ontario accounted for the majority of the 55,000 employment gains recently reported. However, Dalton warned that these employment gains may mask the severity of unemployment issues in Brantford-Brant.

Summary

Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate has hit a pandemic-era high, signaling urgent community support needs despite provincial job gains.

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Brantford Expositor Brantford Expositor — 2025-11-07

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