Victoria’s claim to the lowest unemployment rate in BC is no longer valid, after two consecutive months of increased unemployment, according to the latest numbers released by Stats Canada.
According to new numbers released by Statistics Canada, Victoria had a minuscule 3.3% unemployment rate in December, but that has since grown to 3.9% in January, and now 4.4% for February.
Overall, however, the unemployment rate has been relatively steady for Victorians. Last year, in February 2017, the rate sat at 4.3%, just a tenth off of this month’s 4.4% rate.
Provincially, British Columbia still holds Canada’s claim to the lowest provincial unemployment rate, with 4.7% of the labour force lacking work, a 0.1% drop from January.
It’s no surprise, given the low rates in the four metropolitan areas. Victoria, as mentioned has 4.4%, Vancouver sits at 3.9%, Abbotsford-Mission is at 4.1%, and Kelowna is the outlier with 5.8%.
Nationwide, Canada has a 5.8 unemployment rate for February, down .1% from January.
Unemployment rate by province for February 2018
- British Columbia – 4.7%
- Ontario – 5.5%
- Saskatchewan – 5.6%
- Quebec – 5.6%
- Manitoba – 5.9%
- Alberta – 6.7%
- Nova Scotia – 7.9%
- New Brunswick – 8.2%
- Prince Edward Island – 10.1%
- Newfoundland – 14.0%
