Unemployment rate in northeast sees three per cent increase

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — According to Stats Canada, the unemployment rate in northeastern B.C., as of February 2016, is 9.2 per cent.

The steadily-rising rate has seen an increase of three per cent since October 2015, when it was 6.2 per cent. However, it isn’t the highest rate within B.C. Thompson-Okanagan posted a 9.3 per cent rate, making it the highest in B.C.

The national unemployment rate has nudged up one-tenth of a point to 7.3 per cent in February as the country lost 23-hundred net jobs.

The unemployment rate in B.C. is 6.8 per cent, while its neighbour Alberta looks at a rate of 7.6 per cent.

The highest unemployment rate in the country remains that of Newfoundland and Labrador, who holds a February 2016 rate of 15.7 per cent.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba both hold the title of lowest unemployment rate in the country, with 5.9 per cent.