It wasn't good news for workers in December in Prince George: unemployment went up.
According to data released by Stats Canada today (Jan. 4), the unemployment rate went from 5.2 per cent in November to 5.8 per cent in December.
The employment rate for December finished at 62.4 per cent.
Provincially, the unemployment rate stayed the same at 4.4 per cent and the country also saw no movement last month (5.6 per cent).
Employment held steady over December with increases in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, as well as in health care plus social assistance. There were declines in wholesale and retail trade as well as public administration.
Manufacturing, specifically, saw 24,000 more jobs added in December with the main increases being seen in Ontario and Alberta. The industry has levelled off in the past few months following a drop that began earlier in 2018.
Transportation and warehousing rose by 15,000 which continues the upward trend that began in early 2016.
As for the year, Stats Canada says employment rose by 163,000 jobs (0.9 per cent). The growth was slower compared to 2017 (2.3 per cent) and 2016 (1.2 per cent).
In B.C., the province saw an increase of 44,000 jobs in 2018, almost entirely full-time work. Employment ended up growing 1.8 per cent, which is double the national average and the unemployment rate was 4.4 per cent, which remained the lowest in the country.
The province saw gains in primarily professional scientific and technical services while declines were seen in finance, insurance, real estate and rental and leasing.
