The unemployment rate in British Columbia grew to 6.7% in November – an increase of 0.2 percentage points when compared with October, according to Statistics Canada data released December 6.
This increase offset a gain of the same amount in October, bringing the province's rate down to the same level it was in September.
The provincial unemployment rate remained below the national average of 6.9%, which has been the same for three consecutive months.
B.C. lost 8,200 jobs in November. This was comprised of a 4,500 drop in the number of full-time positions and a 3,700 fall in part-time work.
Year-over-year, the province's unemployment rate was the same as it was in November 2012; however, there were 15,500 fewer jobs across the province that there were a year ago, as the participation rate dropped by 1.2 percentage points to 63.5%.
Across the nation, there was a gain of 21,600 positions in November. This consisted of 1,400 full-time jobs, with the remainder being part-time positions.
The lowest rates of unemployment were once again found in Saskatchewan (4.1%), Alberta (4.7%) and Manitoba (5.6%).
Statistics Canada releases labour force data monthly.
