B.C. follows national trend of rising unemployment in August, losing 16,000 jobs

British Columbia lost close to 16,000 jobs in August, its second monthly decrease in a row. 

Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey said the unemployment rate in B.C. rose 0.3 percentage points from July to 6.2 per cent. 

It follows a national trend that saw employment decline by 66,000 jobs across Canada in August, with losses largely in part-time work.

The national unemployment rate ticked up to 7.1 per cent. 

B.C. was among the top three provinces with the most job losses in August, along with Ontario’s 26,000 loss and Alberta’s decline of 14,000.

Statistics Canada said B.C.’s job losses were mainly among men aged 25 to 54.

Students continued to have a tougher time finding jobs this summer. The national unemployment rate for returning students stood at 16.9 per cent in August.

Statistics Canada said, overall, May to August has seen the highest average unemployment rate for returning students since summer 2009, excluding the pandemic year of 2020. 

In B.C, the unemployment rate for students in August was 16.5 per cent, down more than two percentage points from the same time last year. 

The province saw the highest losses in the services sector last month, shedding almost 34,000 jobs. 

Those losses were felt in the information, culture and recreation sector – which includes industries like publishing and film – as well as educational services, health care and social assistance, and transportation and warehousing. 

Meanwhile, B.C.’s goods-producing sector gained 18,000 jobs in August, mostly in construction and manufacturing.

“Today’s Labour Force Survey numbers for August show an increase of 11,400 jobs in construction and 5,700 in manufacturing, which is in line with our ongoing commitment to investing in the key infrastructure people rely on,” said Ravi Rahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs and economic growth, in a statement. 

“As youth unemployment remains a challenge for young people throughout the province, we are continuing our work in B.C. to ensure they have the skills they need to succeed in a changing economy through our commitment to make post-secondary education more affordable and accessible,” said Kahlon.

But Kelowna-Mission MLA and B.C. Conservative jobs critic Gavin Dew said the numbers highlight a worsening crisis for both young people and small businesses across the province.

“Young people are missing out on jobs, missing out on opportunities, and missing out on hope for a bright future,” said Dew in a statement. He said a comprehensive youth employment strategy is needed, not “superficial band-aid solutions.”

He said small businesses and downtowns are struggling with vandalism and violence.

“B.C. cannot afford to lose a generation of young people to unemployment and underemployment, and we cannot afford to watch our small business sector — the backbone of our economy — collapse under the weight of crime and insecurity,” Dew said.