The national unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points in December to 7.1%, the lowest in rate in four years – but B.C.’s rate has not changed significantly in the past year, according to a report released this morning.
Statistics Canada reported that B.C. unemployment declined 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% compared with November. Year-over-year, the decrease was 0.5 percentage points.
Employment Canada-wide increased for the fourth time in five months, up 40,000, all attributable to full-time jobs.
December employment increased in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. There was a decline in Nova Scotia.
The highest unemployment rates are found in:
- Newfoundland and Labrador (11.5%);
- Prince Edward Island (11.0%);
- New Brunswick (10.8%); and
- Nova Scotia (9.3%).
British Columbia has the fourth lowest unemployment rate of the provinces, after Alberta (4.5%), Saskatchewan (4.6%) and Manitoba (5.2%).