The local unemployment rose just slightly in December. Stats Canada says the rate for the economic region that includes Renfrew County was 5.7 percent last month, up from 5.4 in November. However, that rate has been on a steady increase year over year, climbing seven percentage points from the 5.2 percent rate we saw in December of last year. Stats Canada says Ontario led the country in job growth last month, according to the Labour Force Survey, with the most gains in construction and public administration. The provincial unemployment rate sits at 5.3 per cent.
