The jobless rate in the West Kootenay is rising, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada.
The unemployment rate in the region had risen one per cent in September to 8.8 per cent compared to August—higher than the 8.1 per cent the region recorded one year ago.
Those figures—compiled for the entire East and West Kootenay regions—meant there were 900 more people out of work in September than in August.
However, the total labour force rose by about 1,100, contributing to the rise in unemployment.
B.C.’s unemployment rate of seven per cent is up from August’s rate of 6.7 per cent and is 0.2 percentage points higher than September 2011’s rate of 6.8 per cent. B.C. has Canada’s fourth-lowest unemployment rate. Alberta (4.4 per cent), Saskatchewan (4.7 per cent) and Manitoba (5.0 per cent) have lower unemployment rates.
Across the province, the B.C. economy created some jobs, gaining 5,700 net new jobs in September.
Continued gains were made in full time positions with 1,828,900 full-time jobs in B.C. in September, an increase of 11,900 positions from August. Part-time employment was reported at 499,400 positions, down by 6,200 jobs from August.
Over the last year B.C. has led the nation in job creation, ahead of Ontario (gained 55,400 jobs), Alberta (gained 45,400 jobs) and Quebec (gained 35,100 jobs).
The province’s labour force increased by 15,100 people in September and now stands at 2,503,400. Compared with one year ago, B.C.’s labour force has increased by 37,700 people.
The provincial unemployment rate for youth (15 to 24 years of age) was recorded at 14 per cent, up by 2.3 percentage points from August. In September 2011, the youth unemployment rate was recorded at 14.2 per cent.