B.C. unemployment rate the best in the country- by far

Apr 6, 2018 | 7:23 AM

OTTAWA — More good news for the B.C. economy.

The B.C. unemployment rate is by far the best in Canada, almost a full percentage point ahead of the next best.

Statistics Canada said today, the B.C. rate is unchanged at 4.7 percent. The next best was Ontario, at 5.5 percent.

Across the country, the economy delivered 32,300 net new jobs last month as Canada generated a rush of full-time work that helped hold the national unemployment rate at a record low.

Statistics Canada says the jobless rate stayed at 5.8 per cent in March for a second consecutive month _ and for the third time since December _ to match its lowest level since the agency started measuring the indicator in 1976

The agency says the labour force produced 68,300 full-time positions last month and shed 35,900 part-time jobs.

 However, the survey shows that 19,600 of the new employee positions were created in the public sector, while the number of private-sector workers declined by 7,000.

The report also found that average hourly wage growth, which has been under close scrutiny by the Bank of Canada ahead of interest-rate decisions, strengthened in March to 3.3 per cent, up from 3.1 per cent the previous month.

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    (The Canadian Press)<