The city’s unemployment rate held steady at 6.1 per cent in June, remaining unchanged from the previous month, according data released by Statistics Canada on Friday.
Approximately 3,500 people in the city were looking for work last month, Statistics Canada reported. The city’s participation rate, the number of people working or seeking work, increased to 70.5 per cent, up from 69.2 per cent in May.
Unemployment in the city was still down significantly from June 2020, when the city’s unemployment rate stood at 10.9 per cent.
In a statement issued on Friday, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon said the unemployment rate in B.C. was 6.6 per cent in June – lower than the national average of 7.8 per cent.
"Today, British Columbia has surpassed pre-pandemic employment levels - the only province to do so in June - recovering over 100 (per cent) of the jobs lost during COVID-19,” Kahlon said. "The Labour Force Survey for June showed our plan to build a stronger B.C. is working with substantial employment growth of 42,100 jobs gained throughout the province. There are now 17,000 more British Columbians employed than in February 2020…”
When the province moved to Step 3 of its COVID-19 restart plan on July 1, it created more business and employment opportunities in the province, he said.
"There is a renewed sense of optimism throughout the province, which is showing in our economy as more people travel, 'buy B.C.' and 'support local' in their communities,” Kahlon said. “While we are gradually lifting restrictions, we are not out of the woods yet. I urge everyone to get fully vaccinated, support your communities and respect people's comfort levels as we work through our plan to bring us back together."
