Unemployment rate up in the area

The unemployment rate in the North Bay area is up.

Stats Canada reports the unemployment rate in the North Bay area was 8.2 percent in March.

That’s up from 5.3 percent in March 2014.

Officials say it’s deemed statistically significant because the difference is over and above the standard error.   The figures include the City of North Bay, Callander, East Ferris and Bonfield.

Meantime, employment in the area is at 54.8 percent.

That’s over 10 percent lower than March last year.