Unemployment rate in Northeast B.C. increases slightly in December

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Northeast B.C’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.1 per cent in December 2023, as it was too low to report in November.

In 2023, the unemployment rate was too low to report twice, compared to seven times in 2022.

There were 37,600 northeast B.C. residents employed in December, the same as in November 2023.

In December 2022, there were 37,500 people employed in the region, and the unemployment rate was too low to record.

According to Statistics Canada, unemployment data in the region was “suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act.”

B.C.’s unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent in December, the same as in November.

“Together, we have taken important steps that are helping tackle the biggest challenges we are all facing, and we are going to keep the momentum going,”  said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.

“We know that people and businesses can’t go it alone, and we have seen that supporting them is the right approach to continue to strengthen our economy.” 

The most significant job loss was in the goods-producing sector, with 13,800 fewer people employed in December.

The goods-producing sector includes jobs in the agriculture, forestry and construction sectors. 

The most significant job increase was in the services-producing sector, with an additional 15,400 people employed.

The services-producing sector entails jobs in the retail and wholesale trade sectors.

Nationally, the jobless rate remained at 5.3 per cent.