Prince George was home to one of B.C.'s largest year-over-year declines in the number of Employment Insurance (EI) recipients, according to June numbers released by Statistics Canada.
As of June 2011, there were 2,510 recipients in the city and surrounding area, a 24.4 per cent drop from 3,320 the year before, the fifth largest drop in the province.
Initiatives Prince George economic analyst Tara Bogh said the trend is consistent with that of the city's unemployment rate and noted Prince George has reached a five-year high in terms of the number of people holding down jobs.
In June, the unemployment rate stood at 6.0 per cent with 48,900 people working and 3,100 looking for jobs, compared to 7.2 per cent and 49,000 employed and 3,800 seeking work. As of last month, the figures were 6.6 per cent with 49,600 working - a figure not seen for at least five years - and 4,100 seeking employment.
Bogh said the decrease is too large to be attributed only to people running out of EI benefits.
"Given the overall strength of the economy, it's unlikely we're seeing a lot of prolonged unemployment in general throughout the economy," Bogh said.
Bogh cautioned a person can collect EI and still be considered employed. A person can receive EI while working part-time and conversely, there are people who are not receiving EI but are seeking work.
