Kamloops-area unemployment rate rises to 10.7% in July

In January and February this year, the Kamloops area unemployment rate was 4.8 per cent, but that figure has increased every month since.

Image Credit: Statistics Canada

Provincially, the unemployment rate notched up to 5.9 per cent last month, compared to 5.6 per cent in June, part of what Statistics Canada says was a countrywide rise.

The agency says the national unemployment rate sits at 6.9 per cent, with a loss of 51,000 full-time positions across Canada in July, largely in the private sector.

In addition to Kamloops, Statistics Canada says the jobless rate climbed in Victoria and Nanaimo last month, while it fell in Vancouver, Kelowna, Chilliwack as well as Abbotsford-Mission.

B.C. Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon said the numbers show the impact of the U.S. trade war on the Canadian economy but the province continues to “compare favourably” with other jurisdictions.

In a statement, Kahlon said B.C. will continue the work to defend workers and businesses against Trump’s threats while building a strong economy that’s less reliant on the United States.

“In July, B.C. saw jobs losses compared to last month, but so far this year, B.C. has gained 21,400 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces,” Kahlon said.

Private-sector employment is up by 1,500 jobs compared to last month and B.C. is the only large province with private-sector employment growth in July. Since July 2017, private-sector employment has increased by 179,200 and self-employment has increased by 28,700.

– With files from The Canadian Press

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops-area unemployment rate rises to 10.7% in July

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