The city's unemployment rate tumbled to a five-year low of 5.2 per cent in November, according to Statistics Canada labour market survey numbers.
That's the lowest it's been since December 2007, noted Initiatives Prince George economic development manager Tara Bogh, when the rate hit 5.1 per cent.
"it just shows that the economy is in really strong conditions right now," she said. "We're seeing employment growth across a variety of sectors and a lot of occupations are in demand which really bodes well for the economy in general."
The rate was 6.6 per cent in October and much of the month-over-month decline appears due to a 2,200-person increase in the number of people of working age not seeking employment.
They now add up to 16,900 while those actually holding down jobs declined by 1,200 to 51,200 - after peaking at 52,400 in September - and those unemployed but actively looking for work declined by 900 to 2,800.
Bogh attributed the movement to seasonal factors like waiting for freeze up at logging operations.
"It's actually really normal around this time of year to see a drop in employment that usually rebounds in December," she said.
The number working full-time last month was 43,600 and part-time workers added up to 7,700.
A year ago, the unemployment rate was 6.8 per cent and 49,400 people were working - 39,000 of them full-time and 10,300 part-time - while 3,600 were seeking work and 18,200 were not participating in the labour force.
The numbers are based on a three-month rolling average.
Bogh said the city is in a period of high labour demand, where there are plenty of job opportunities available, rather than facing a widespread labour shortage.
"We have continued throughout 2012 to see employment growth in a lot of the larger sectors," Bogh said. "To me it means that if employment is growing, then managers are still finding people to put into the available jobs.
"If you started to see employment leveling off, then I would think that would be a real indication of people not being able to find bodies to fill those positions."
Bogh said there are shortages in some sectors, notably truck driving, but added employment in the construction sector has almost doubled over the year.
"2012 overall was an extremely strong year for our economy and we're finishing it out on a high note," Bogh said. "It'll be interesting to see what 2013 brings but we anticipate that it'll be another positive year for us."
