The Kootenay unemployment rate was down drastically last month compared to the same time last year.
It stood at 6.8 per cent compared to 9.1 per cent in July 2015.
However the labour force shrank by more than 6,000 people.
Sixty-six thousand people had work while 4,800 were job hunting.
The local jobless rate was identical to the national rate but higher than the BC rate of 5.8 per cent.