Unemployment rate up slightly across Canada and in BC: StatCan

Canada’s unemployment rate increased slightly between March and April, according to Statistics Canada’s latest data.

It grew from 6.7 per cent to 6.9 per cent.

In British Columbia, it grew from 6.1 cent to 6.2 per cent.

Nationally, StatCan said that employment fell in the manufacturing sector by 31,000 in April.

It also fell in wholesale and retail (by 27,000).

But it grew in public administration by 37,000 as temporary workers were hired to organize the federal election.

It also increased in finance, insurance, real estate and rentals, with 24,000 jobs added.

Around BC, the unemployment rates in April were as follows (with the March rate in brackets):

• Kelowna: 6.9 per cent (5.8)

• Kamloops: 6.3 per cent (5.6)

• Chilliwack: 6.1 per cent (6.6)

• Abbotsford-Mission: 6.8 per cent (6.1)

• Vancouver: 6.6 per cent (6.7)

• Victoria: 3.6 per cent (3.6)

• Nanaimo: 6.2 per cent (6.0)

But while unemployment increased nationally between March and April, overall employment actually increased by 7,400.

There was a decline of 33,000 in March, however.

The employment rate, meanwhile, was down 0.2 percentage points to 60.8 per cent in April.

StatCan explained: “The employment rate trended down for most of 2023 and 2024, as population growth outpaced employment gains. More recently, the employment rate had increased for three consecutive months from November 2024 to January 2025, driven by strong employment gains amid slower population growth.”