The Kootenay’s unemployment rate is well below the provincial average, sitting at 3.6 per cent this November.
A drop from 6.9 per cent this time last year, November 2023.
As for the number of people working, Stats Canada analyst Vince Ferrao says the employment picture saw some improvements within the last 12 months with 83,500 people currently employed, compared to November 2023’s 79,900, with the most gains in full-time work.
“This year compared to November last year, we have more people working in construction, we have smaller gains in wholesale and retail, and also a bit in manufacturing,” said Ferrao.
“Another increase was information, culture and recreation that went up a little bit, but there was one that declined with accommodation and food services.”
Provincial snapshot
BC’s unemployment rate saw little change shifting to 5.7 per cent (previously 5.8 per cent in October) where it was the second lowest among the provinces trailing only Saskatchewan (5.6 per cent).
Despite adding 50-thousand jobs, Canada’s jobless mark reached a near eight-year high (January 2017) at 6.8 per cent if you exclude the pandemic years.
Provincial breakdown of unemployment rate
- Saskatchewan 5.6 per cent
- British Columbia 5.7 per cent
- Manitoba 5.8 per cent
- Quebec 5.9 per cent
- Nova Scotia 6.1per cent
- New Brunswick 6.9 per cent
- Alberta 7.5 per cent
- Ontario 7.6 per cent
- Prince Edward Island per cent
- Newfoundland and Labrador 10.8 per cent
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