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Canadian unemployment hits four-year low; B.C.’s remains even lower: StatsCan

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.
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British Columbia, employment statistics, geography, Statistics Canada, Canadian unemployment hits four-year low; B.C.’s remains even lower: StatsCan

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%).

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@EmmaCrawfordBIV