Prince George’s unemployment rate rose to 7.3 per cent in April, nearly double the 3.8 per cent reported by Statistics Canada for April 2022.
The city’s unemployment rate was up from 6.2 per cent in March, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday.
The number of people holding down jobs in the city dropped to 49,300, down by 400 from March. By comparison, 53,300 people were employed in Prince George in April 2022.
In April, 3,900 people were seeking work in the city, according to Statistics Canada, up from 3,300 in March. In April 2022, 2,100 people were looking for jobs in Prince George.
The labour force participation rate, the percentage of working-age adults employed or actively looking for work, in Prince George was 63.6 per cent in April. In April 2022 it was 67.2 per cent.
The unemployment rate in Prince George last month was higher than the B.C. and national average of five per cent.
“Today's Labour Force Survey release confirms that B.C.'s economy remains stable with a total of 2,100 jobs added last month. This continues our steady growth, which has seen 20,400 full-time jobs added this year, even as jurisdictions around the world face challenges,” B.C. Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey said in a statement released on Friday. “We continue to hear from businesses that are having trouble recruiting skilled workers. At the same time, we need to create opportunities for people in rural B.C. who have been affected by changes in the forest sector.”
