Despite a decline in B.C.'s unemployment rate in January, employment quality has fallen, according to Statistics Canada data released Friday.
B.C.'s unemployment rate fell to 8.1% in January from 8.3% in December due primarily to a 3.3% increase in part-time employment to 512,4000 from 496,100. The gains offset the loss of full-time employment of 0.2%.
Nevertheless, part-time job gains in Ontario and B.C. contributed to a 0.1% drop in the national unemployment rate to 8.3% in January, marking the fourth employment gain in six months.
Nationally, employment gains were driven by women aged 25 to 54 and the first notable increase in youth employment since the fall of 2008.
January's increase was led by the private sector, while self-employment declined.