B.C. lost 3,100 jobs in July despite more businesses reopening as restrictions relax

August 16, 2021

B.C. lost 3,100 jobs in July despite more businesses reopening and a loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey Friday.

Although full-time positions increased by 3,300, those gains were lost because the province shed 6,500 part-time jobs.

Still, for the second consecutive month, B.C. was the lone province with employment above its pre-pandemic level, according to StatsCan.

The loss of part-time jobs was not significant enough to change the province’s unemployment rate, which remained unchanged at 6.6 per cent.

Following the report, B.C. Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon issued a statement touting B.C.’s strong economy, noting the province has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada.

“With the highest level of per capita supports for people and businesses in Canada, our job recovery has been solid,” he said, noting that job recovery has been particularly strong in the Cariboo, the Kootenays, North Coast-Nechako, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan and the Lower Mainland.

Source: Vancouver Sun