Northwest B.C.’s unemployment rate rose sharply in February, reaching 9.35 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.
That is up from 4.3 per cent recorded in the region a year earlier.
Analyst Vince Ferrao said that equates to about 2,000 more people being unemployed compared to 2025.
“The number of people who are looking for work was 3,900 in February. A year ago, there were 1,900 people looking for work,” he said.
Ferrao added the number of people working last month was 37,200 compared to about 43,000 a year before.
The service sector was the main industry hit between this and last year, contributing to the increase in unemployment.
Provincially, the northwest had the highest unemployment rate for February, trailed by the northeast (8.8 per cent), Cariboo (6.7 per cent), and Kootenay (6.4 per cent) regions.
B.C.’s overall unemployment rate stayed at 6.1 per cent while the national rage rose slightly to 6.7 per cent compared to January’s 6.5.
Here is a break down of all provinces:
- Saskatchewan – 5.6 per cent
- Manitoba – 5.7 per cent
- Quebec – 5.9 per cent
- Alberta – 6.3 per cent
- New Brunswick – 7.0 per cent
- Nova Scotia – 7.1 per cent
- Prince Edward Island – 7.2 per cent
- Ontario – 7.6 per cent
- Newfoundland and Labrador – 9.2 per cent
(Files by Logan Flint, Vista Radio Staff)
