The local jobless rate last month was a full two per cent higher than at the same time last year.
Statistics Canada says the population in the Kootenays grew and so did both the number of people working and the number of people looking for work.
In February, 82,200 people were employed and 5,600 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 6.4 per cent. The total population was 150,900.
Last year at the same time, 80,000 people had jobs and 3,700 were trying to find jobs, for a rate of 4.4 per cent. The population was then 149,500.
Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent, as the country shed 84,000 jobs. Much of that decline came among youth 15 to 24 and men aged 25 to 54.
The greatest declines were seen in wholesale and retail trade as well as personal and repair services. BC was one of four provinces where employment declined, with 20,000 fewer jobs. Only Quebec saw a greater decline, with 57,000 losses. However, BC’s rate of 6.1 per cent was unchanged from the previous month and was the fourth lowest in Canada.
Average hourly wages were up 3.9 per cent year over year to $37.56.
