Northeast unemployment rate takes a big jump

The unemployment rate in northeastern B.C. took a jump in January.

The unemployment rate in the region is currently sitting at nine per cent which is a 1.9 per cent increase over December 2010.

B.C. Stats reports the unemployment rate is high for this time of year since the rate was only 4.9 per cent in January of 2010. The current rate puts the region in a second-place tie with the Thompson-Okanagan region and only trailing Abbotsford by a half of a percent.

The province as a whole saw a half a per cent increase in its unemployment rate from seven per cent to 7.5 per cent in December.

Furthermore, B.C. lags behind the rest of the western provinces. Manitoba currently has a five per cent unemployment rate, while Saskatchewan sits at 5.4 per cent and Alberta sits at 5.9 per cent.