Northeast B.C.’s unemployment rate at 4.8 per cent

For the first time in months, Northeast B.C. unemployment was at 4.8 per cent, instead of being too low to report, according to recent labour force data.

In April, 35,500 were employed, increasing 100 jobs from March. There were 35,500 people employed in March. In April 2021, the region reported a 4.9 per cent unemployment rate, and 39,200 were employed.

B.C. had a 5.2 per cent unemployment rate in April, compared to 5.2 per cent in March.

Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, says that this month marks eleven straight months where B.C. has led the country in post-pandemic job recovery, adding that 92,500 more people are working today than before the pandemic and that 49,600 more people are working in the private sector now than before as well.

“This is one of the highest private-sector recovery rates in the country. B.C.’s unemployment rate also continues to be among the lowest in Canada at 5.4 per cent,” he said.

“As part of this ongoing work, we’re pleased to see that year over year, Indigenous Peoples’ employment has increased by 20%, an increase of 22,700 jobs – with more to do to ensure the benefits of our recovery are equitably shared.”

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose from 5.2 per cent to 5.5 per cent in April but is still a lower rate than in April of last year, which was at 8.4 per cent.