Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation Executive Director Johnathan Coulman answers questions about the Sault’s unemployment rate after presenting figures to City Council on Monday night.

City Council received a presentation on Monday night from the Executive Director of the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation. Johnathan Coulman talked about the city going through a cycle of high unemployment and low employment, evident by a current jobless rate of 12.2 percent. Some members of council felt that the figure could actually be higher, with people like those on social assistance not included in the final percentage. Coulman says the local unemployment rate is actually determined through a sample size of about 200 households and is measured through people that are ‘actively looking’ for work…

Coulman says other people — such as post-secondary students — are included as they would also be looking for work. The question was asked why the jobless rate was so high. He pointed to economic factors, particularly a downturn in the oil and gas sectors nationally having an effect on Tenaris Tubes. Coulman also mentioned seasonal factors with the transition from summer into fall. Coulman says his company is working on a survey of its own to reflect a more accurate picture of the employment situation — the Employer One survey. It will allow participating employers in the region to get a handle of workforce numbers and determine issues like finding new workers, as well as training or skills with existing employees. Coulman says the data collection process is already underway…

In the meantime, Coulman is positive that there should be a lower jobless rate as the fall season begins. A trend that has occured in most of the last few years. It should be noted that this time in 2012 went through a similar pattern as now regarding the participation rate of people looking for work. It took about a year and a half to recover to an average rate of between 60 and 65 percent. When asked about what council should do to improve the high unemployment situation, Coulman answered that a suggestion from Councillor Steve Butland to take their own survey with Statistics Canada’s questions would be ideal…

The cost for Statistics Canada to increase its sample size to one thousand households in determining the various rates is estimated to be about 70 thousand dollars. The sample taken currently is about 200 households. When asked if immigration would help alleviate the unemployment rate, Coulman says it is an idea that could be most effective in the long-term.