B.C.’s employment level slipped 0.3% in August relative to the previous month, but was consistent with last August’s level, according to numbers released this morning by Statistics Canada.
The province’s labour force was unchanged month over month and up 0.1% year-over-year.
Nationally, Statistics Canada reported virtually unchanged employment across the country, with the national unemployment rate edging up 0.1 percentage points to 7.3%.
Statistics Canada found that in the last 12 months, employment has grown 1.3% across the country, led by an increase in private-sector employment in Ontario and Alberta.
It noted that in August, there were employment losses in construction, natural resources, and transportation and warehousing.
Statistics Canada noted that this summer, the average unemployment rate for students aged 15 to 24 was 17.2%, up slightly from 16.9% last summer. In the summers of 2006 to 2008, the rate was below 14%.
Approximately a year ago, Statistics Canada identified that B.C. had one of the fastest-growing labour forces in the country. (See “Provincial labour force among fastest growing in country” – BIV Daily Edition, August 6, 2010.)
Jenny Wagler
Twitter: JennyWagler_BIV