Northwest B.C. unemployment rate jumps to 6.4 per cent

The jobless mark across northwest B.C. felt a hit in June.

According to the Labour Division Survey, the mark rose to 6.4 per cent, a jump of 1.3 per cent when compared to last year’s 5.1 per cent.

Analyst Vince Ferrao said the number of working age people in the region dropped by about 4,000.

“We have 42,300 [people] and a year ago we had 46,300.”

The main sectors impacted were construction, and transportation and warehousing.

Provincially, the unemployment rate was 0.2 per cent higher than a year prior at 5.6 per cent which is the third lowest in the country.

The national rate dropped from 7.0 per cent a year ago to 6.9.

Here is a breakdown of all provinces:

• Saskatchewan 4.9%
• Manitoba 5.5%
• British Columbia 5.6%
• Quebec: 6.3%
• Nova Scotia 6.7%
• Alberta 6.8%
• New Brunswick 7.3%
• Ontario 7.8%
• Prince Edward Island 8.6%
• Newfoundland and Labrador 9.9%