KAMLOOPS — Good news on the employment front in Kamloops.
Statistics Canada says unemployment was down year-over-year in the Tournament Capital.
“For Kamloops, what we’re seeing is the unemployment rate fell compared to a year ago,” says Analyst Vincent Ferrao. “This July it was 5.3 per cent and a year ago it was 8.6.”
So, why the drop?
“We have more people working. 69,300 people were working this July compared with 57,100 a year ago. In terms of how many unemployed people we have in Kamloops, 3,900 were looking for work this July compared with 5,400 a year ago,” he says.
Regionally, in the Thompson-Okanagan region, Ferrao says there are more people working in the service producing sector.
“More specifically in retail and wholesale and also health care and social assistance.”
Provincially, the unemployment rate dropped to an even 5 per cent, down two-tenths of a point from 5.2 per cent in June.
Nationally, the unemployment rate fell from six per cent to 5.8 per cent, a four-decade low.
Statistics Canada says a rush of part-time jobs offset a drop in full-time work last month to help Canada post a net gain of 54,100 jobs.
