â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

Kootenay unemployment rate hit 6.9% in November

The Kootenays had the highest unemployment rate in BC last month.

Statistics Canada says in November the local jobless rate stood at 6.9 per cent, up from 5.7 per cent in October and 5.2 per cent at the same time last year.

There were 79,900 people working (up from 78,800 the previous month and 77,700 in November 2022) out of a population of 143,200 (up from 143,100 in October and 141,100 the previous year). However, the number of people looking for work saw a sharp increase: there were 5,900 job seekers last month, compared to 4,700 in October and 4,300 a year ago.

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 5.8 per cent, continuing an upward trend that began in April. StatsCan says while the economy gained 25,000 jobs, population growth continued to outpace employment growth.

Employment increased in manufacturing and construction but declined in wholesale and retail trade, and finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing.

On a year-over-year basis, average hourly wages rose 4.8 per cent to $34.28 in November.

The number of private sector employees rose by 38,000 in November, the first increase since June. The number of public sector employees didn’t change much. The number of self-employed workers decreased by 25,000.

StatsCan also noted most immigrants who arrived in the previous five years had trouble finding work related to their post-secondary credentials or work experience acquired abroad.

 

 

Continue Reading

chnv Now playing play

ckkc Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewards host fall events at Harrop Wetland and annual Kootenay Lake Summit

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society is inviting community members to participate in a series of hands-on events this fall at the Harrop Wetland and to join the upcoming Kootenay Lake Summit.

Former Nelson public works director, councillor Bob Adams dies at 82

After 26 years looking after the city's infrastructure, Adams served four terms on city council.

Infrastructure, housing, UNDRIP will top agenda as local governments meet in Victoria next week

Members of local governments and First Nations are gathering in Victoria next week for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention.

B.C. Conservatives support federal bill to classify intimate partner killings as first-degree murder

B.C. politicians are voicing support for a federal Conservative bill that would classify the killing of an intimate partner as first-degree murder. 

Whitewater eyes funding to pave access road

Whitewater Ski Resort is asking the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) to back its bid to pave a six-kilometre stretch of the Whitewater Access Road.
- Advertisement -