B.C. employment rate sees small gains in March amid economic turmoil
Statistics Canada released Canada's jobs numbers Friday, revealing that British Columbia's employment rate had a small gain in March compared to the previous month.
However, regions throughout British Columbia appeared to be coping differently with global economic uncertainty.
B.C.'s employment rate rose by 0.2 per cent last month to 6.1 per cent, according to StatCan, with 5,700 jobs gained, which it said is not a significant change.
Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent in March, up from 6.6 per cent in February. That's a decrease of 33,000 jobs across the country.
Ontario had the most job losses, with the latest report showing 28,000 jobs lost in that province last month, resulting in an unemployment rate of 7.5 per cent.
B.C.'s neighbour, Alberta, also suffered some of the biggest losses, with 15,000 fewer jobs. That province's employment rate is now 7.1 per cent.
Saskatchewan gained the most jobs — 6,600, leading to an unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent.
Diversifying trade
Diana Gibson, B.C.'s minister of jobs, economic development and innovation, said in a written statement that the province's unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country, and lower than the national average.
"As British Columbians braced themselves for another week of uncertainty from the United States, our government continues to stand strong for people, take action and defend our jobs," Gibson said in the statement.
"All over the world, people are looking for new trading partners as the tariff threat now impacts countries around the globe. We are working to diversify our trade to support our businesses and protect and create more jobs."
Gibsons also pointed out that B.C. leads the country with the highest hourly wage among the provinces, at $37.64.
Variations by sector
But some sectors in B.C. took more of a beating than others.
Statistics Canada's numbers show that the wholesale and retail trade sector suffered the biggest job losses last month, with 8,900 fewer people employed.
That was followed by a category called "other services," which includes household personal services and repairs and maintenance, with 7,700 jobs lost.
The biggest job gains were in health care and social assistance, with an increase of 6,600, followed by the information, culture and recreation sector, up 6,600.
Variations by city
Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities. It cautioned, however, that the figures may fluctuate widely because they are based on small statistical samples.
Here are the jobless rates for March by city (numbers from the previous month in brackets):
Abbotsford-Mission, B.C. 6.1 per cent (5.5)
Chilliwack, B.C. 6.6 per cent (7.0)
Kamloops, B.C. 5.6 per cent (4.8)
Kelowna, B.C. 5.8 per cent (5.3)
Nanaimo, B.C. 6.0 per cent (6.0)
Vancouver 6.7 per cent (6.8)
Victoria 3.6 per cent (3.5)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
New research shows most B.C. investors responded to recent market volatility
VANCOUVER, BC, June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Recent investment market volatility spurred by changes in U.S. trade policy sparked widespread concern among B.C. investors and prompted most to change their behaviour or investment strategy, according to new research from the BC Securities Commission (BCSC). The study found 74 per cent of B.C. investors said they were closely following changes in the investment markets, and 72 per cent reporting concern about the impact on their investments. April's market volatility and the headlines that followed prompted 61 per cent of investors to take action. Among all investors: 39 per cent reported monitoring their investments and the news more closely 32 per cent reported adjusting their strategy, including speaking with their advisor and making changes to their investment strategy or financial plan, and 25 per cent reported buying and/or selling investments that changed in value or that they expected to change in value. Selling was more common among self-directed investors and investors between the ages of 18 to 34 and among those with investable assets less than $100,000. "Anxiety can lead us to make changes and decisions based on short-term factors that can have long-term consequences on our financial futures," said Pamela McDonald, the BCSC's Director, Communications & Education. "Investors, when confronted by economic instability, should focus on good investing habits, and do a 'check-in' on their short- and long-term goals, so they can make sound decisions." Investors can also navigate volatility in the investment markets by understanding their risk profile, talking to a registered investment advisor to create a tailored plan, and considering the source of information and advice they rely on to make investment decisions. Investors should also be familiar with the warning signs of investment fraud because scammers will often use periods of economic uncertainty to rope individuals into investment schemes. British Columbians can find unbiased investment information and educational resources on the BCSC's investor education website, About the research: This omnibus survey, conducted by Innovative Research Group for the BCSC, included questions aimed at understanding attitudes toward recent changes in the investment markets and whether those changes had an impact on investor behaviour. The online survey was conducted among a representative sample of British Columbians from April 28 to May 2, 2025. A total 1,005 individuals age 18 and over completed the survey, which was weighted to 1,000 by age, gender, region, education and investable assets to ensure that the overall sample's composition reflects that of the actual population according to Statistics Canada data. About the B.C. Securities Commission ( The BC Securities Commission, an independent provincial government agency, strives to make the investment market benefit the public. We set rules, monitor compliance by industry, take action against misconduct, and provide guidance to investors and industry. As guardians of B.C.'s investment market, we're committed to maintaining a market that is honest, fair, competitive and dynamic, enabling British Columbians to thrive. Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at SOURCE British Columbia Securities Commission View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Luxembourg opens Ottawa embassy as Canada shifts its attention to Europe
OTTAWA — Luxembourg is officially opening an embassy in Ottawa as the small European nation moves to expand its economy beyond financial services. The country of 680,000, commonly referred to as a tax haven, is one of Europe's most sparsely populated nations. Luxembourg is a major financial hub and Statistics Canada ranks it as the eighth largest source of foreign direct investment in Canada, which does not include other countries' indirect funding through Luxembourg. Luxembourg's Foreign Affairs Minister Xavier Bettel is in Ottawa to officially open the embassy that has been operating since last December, just as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks deeper trade ties with Europe. Robert Harmsen, an Edmonton native and a political scientist at the University of Luxembourg, says the country wants to move beyond financial and steel sectors and into cybersecurity and health care. Harmsen, who was part of the country's trade mission to Canada in 2022, says Luxembourg can help Canada boost its exports to various European Union countries as the U.S. pulls back on trade, This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Posthaste: Canada's work-life balance standing slips globally
Canada has slipped in a worldwide ranking of work-life balance, but still remains well ahead of its southern neighbour. The country ranks seventh on Remote Technology Inc.'s Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025, falling from fifth last year, but is still the only country in the Americas to crack the top 10. Canada's score increased compared to last year, meaning its drop in the rankings is a result of other countries improving. The country scored highly for its statutory sick pay, universal health care and support for LGBTQ+ inclusivity. 'Canadian workplaces tend to value punctuality and dependability, but employees typically maintain a healthy separation between work and family life,' the report said. New Zealand landed in the top spot for the third year in a row, with an index score of 86.87, in part due to a strong minimum wage, happy workers and statutory sick pay. 'Why is New Zealand so life-work-balance-friendly? Well, it helps to be surrounded by such diverse, breathtaking scenery, but while the country doesn't rank at No. 1 for every factor we assessed, it scores consistently well across the study,' the report said. New Zealand and Ireland (81.17) are the only two countries to score above 80 on the ranking; Belgium (75.91), Germany (74.65) and Norway (74.2) rounded out the top five, while Canada's score was 73.46. At the other end of the spectrum, the United States (31.17) ranked 59th of the 60 countries in the report, above only Nigeria (26.67). Still, the report said the U.S.'s low rank can provide opportunity for employers looking to attract talent. 'Statutory provisions for annual leave, sick leave, social security and health care are comparatively low in the U.S.,' the report said. 'That means employers who can provide these benefits as part of an employee-focused (system) will find great success when attracting and retaining top-quality U.S. candidates.' While Canada ranks high globally when it comes to work-life balance, there is certainly some room for improvement. Work has interfered with 32 per cent of Canadians' home and family life, according to a 2024 report by Statistics Canada. The agency also said 33 per cent of Canadians are unable to complete personal tasks at home due to their work commitments. to get Posthaste delivered straight to your road trips to the U.S. from Canada have fallen for the fifth straight month as Canadians look to stay local amid a trade war. Return trips by vehicle among Canadians fell 38.1 per cent in compared to a year ago. More than 2.5 million fewer cars have crossed the border since January compared to the first five months of 2024. Canadians made up more than 25 per cent of visitors to the U.S. last year, but many Canadians are looking to fight back against protectionist U.S. trade policies this year. Read more. Conference of Montreal Day 3 Today's data: Canadian building permits for April, U.S. consumer price index for May Today's earnings: Oracle Corp., Chewy Inc., Victoria's Secret & Co., Dollarama Inc. Canadian businesses trading with U.S. look to 'pivot' as profits decline and expenses rise Bye bye, Beer Stores: Retailer lists 10 additional locations that will close in August Lockheed jet deal to cost Canada more than $27 billion, auditor says Smucker says tariff-fuelled price hikes will weigh on profit For those looking to retire in the next few years and use profits from a home downsizing as a nest egg, be prepared for disappointment when it comes to the exact size of that nest egg. As Jason Heath puts it, Canada's real estate is under pressure and may be for some time, meaning anyone banking on profits from a sale should temper expectations. Read more here. Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at wealth@ with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we'll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we'll keep your name out of it, of course). Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister's Financial Post column can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won't want to miss. Plus check his mortgage rate page for Canada's lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily. Visit the Financial Post's YouTube channel for interviews with Canada's leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more. Today's Posthaste was written by Ben Cousins with additional reporting from Financial Post staff, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg. Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at posthaste@ Canada's unemployment rate could reach 7.5% on still strong immigration Canadian businesses showing signs of strain not seen since 2009
