Following two months of little change, B.C. employment in July fell month-over-month by 15,000, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.4 percentage points to 7.0%, according to Statistics Canada.
However, because of job gains made prior to May, employment in the province was 1.5% higher compared with 12 months earlier.
Nationwide, employment in July declined by 30,000, largely the result of losses in part-time work, according to StatsCan's July Labour Force Survey. The national unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 7.3%.
Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 0.8% or 139,000, with full-time employment up 1.4% while part-time employment declined 1.8%. Total number of hours worked increased 1.2% over the same period.
Employment losses nationwide in July were noted in wholesale and retail trade; professional, scientific and technical services; public administration; and natural resources. These losses were partly offset by gains in information, culture and recreation as well as in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.
Employment in wholesale and retail trade decreased by 30,000 in July. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in this sector has fallen by 88,000 (-3.3%).
In July, employment in professional, scientific and technical services declined by 22,000, continuing its downward trend that started in January. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment was little changed in this sector, as the recent declines were offset by gains in the first five months of this period.
Employment in public administration fell by 17,000 in July. Employment in this sector remained similar to 12 months earlier.
Employment in natural resources declined by 8,900 in July, following two months of little change. Nonetheless, this sector continued to have the highest year-over-year growth rate of all major industries at 11.4%.
In July, employment rose by 24,000 in information, culture and recreation, following declines in the previous three months. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in this sector remained little changed.
Employment in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing increased by 19,000 in July, continuing an upward trend that started in February. These gains offset declines in the previous five months, leaving employment in July similar to that of 12 months earlier.
Manufacturing was little changed in July, following gains earlier in the year. Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of factory workers was up slightly.
