Somewhat confusing numbers surfaced on the job front in this economic region last month.

Figures released Friday by Statistics Canada showed a decrease in the unemployment rate in Economic Region 540 to 5.2 per cent in April from 5.4 per cent in March.

Economic Region 540 includes Simcoe, Dufferin, Wellington counties as well as Waterloo Region.

The nation’s number crunchers announced that, in April, while there was no change in the employment numbers, unemployment fell by 1,500 people, a figure that almost matched the number of people who left the labour force.

There was also very little change in employment, compared to the same time last year. However, there was a drop in unemployment figures, which was roughly the same as the number of people who left the labour force. As a result, there was a small drop in the unemployment rate year over year.

In April 2008, the services-producing sector added 12,600 jobs compared to the same time last year. 

There was significant growth in trade, which saw 12,900 new jobs year over year.

In the goods-producing sector, there were no industrial groups that saw any growth in the 12 months since April 2007. Manufacturing and construction had the greatest losses with decreases of 5,900 and 4,800 respectively.

Nationally, the jobless rate crept up a 10th of a percentage point from March to 6.1 per cent in April. 

Provincially, the rate fell a 10th of a point to 6.3 per cent.