Unemployment rates in the North Bay were higher in June than in the same month last year, according to figures released by the North Bay office of Human Resources Development Canada. Employment insurance claimants have increased over the past 12 months to 1,865, from 1,595 the previous year. The number of people unemployed increased 17 per cent in North Bay, with only single digit increases in West Nipissing and the surrounding areas.
Much of the jump is attributed to last year's high local construction activity with about $48 million in projects drawing upon much of the area labour force. Numbers are expected to stabilize with seasonal jobs opening up, as well as opportunities in construction, tourism and the technology fields.
