2024 has been a much better year than 2023 when it comes to the unemployment rate in the region.
Vincent Ferrao, a Labour Market Analyst with Stats Canada, says the jobless rate in the Cariboo was 5.2 percent last month.
That was down from an even 7 percent in September of 2023, and is the 7th straight month that there has been a year over year decline.
Ferrao says there were roughly 12-hundred more people working in the Cariboo last month compared to a year ago.
“We saw a gain in services. Examples would be wholesale and retail trade, healthcare and social assistance, information, culture and recreation and a little bit in accommodation and food, so those are the increases. We did see some declines. Natural Resources fell and construction was down a little bit.”
Ferrao says the biggest increase was in healthcare and social assistance.
“Healthcare and social assistance, that industry was up by about 3,000. It employed 15,400 people and a year ago it employed 12,400.”
The national unemployment rate was 6.5 percent last month, down slightly from 6.6
BC’s unemployment rate was 6 percent, which was up from 5.8 in August, and was 4th out of the provinces.
Quebec was the lowest at 5.5 percent and Manitoba and Saskatchewan were both lower as well.
Here is a breakdown of all the provinces:
Quebec 5.5%
Saskatchewan/Manitoba 5.7%
British Columbia 6.0%
Nova Scotia 6.3%
New Brunswick 6.7%
Ontario 6.9%
Prince Edward Island 7.1%
Alberta 7.5%
Newfoundland and Labrador 10%
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