There might have been a record amount of sun in B.C. last month, but for the thousands of workers who quit their jobs all was not bright on their career horizons.
According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, there was a spike in the number and proportion of people who quit their jobs because they were dissatisfied with their work. About 12,300 who quit their jobs in July fell in that category, the largest number since last August, when 12,800 workers quit because of job dissatisfaction.
Forty-four per cent of B.C. workers who handed in their notice last month were dissatisfied, a proportion that hasn’t been that high since February 2010.
By comparison, only 30% of Canadians on average quit because of job dissatisfaction.
Whether they can get a new job remains challenging in B.C. Central 1 Credit Union noted that there has been zero job growth in the province so far this year and the dip in unemployment has resulted from fewer people looking for work rather than any significant employment increase.
According to BC Stats, there were 11,700 fewer jobs in B.C. last month compared with June. That pushed B.C.’s unemployment rate up to 6.7%.
Most of the joblessness resulted from the drop in part-time employment, with the bulk of the declines affecting workers aged 15 to 24 and those over 55. The total number of jobs for both categories fell 7,700 and 7,300, respectively, in July.
But people who were permanently laid off make up the largest proportion of B.C.’s unemployed.
That proportion has ranged from a low of 37% in January to a year-to-date monthly high of 44% in July. Only 16.5% of B.C.’s unemployed over the age of 15 left their job because they were dissatisfied, were going to school, had an illness or other reasons.
If job seekers are patient enough, they might eventually find a job. About 25.5% of unemployed in B.C. have remained jobless for the past year. That proportion was down from a high of 31% in January.
However, because monthly job figures remain volatile, that bit of good news could turn bad. Central 1 noted that all the job growth in June was lost in July.
