Southwest B.C.’s unemployment rate fell to 7.0 per cent in September 2021, down from 10.9 per cent in September 2020. 

October 31, 2021

According to the BC Check-Up: Work, an annual report by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) on employment trends across the province, B.C.’s unemployment rate was 5.9 per cent in September 2021, down from 8.6 per cent in September 2020.

“As the global economy rebounded and domestic restrictions eased over the past year, organizations have been on a hiring spree to meet the growing demand,” said Lori Mathison, FCPA, FCGA, LLB, president and CEO of CPABC. “Although the unemployment rate is still above the 4.9 per cent seen in September 2019, uneven demands across sectors and regions has created challenges for many employers seeking to hire.”

As of September 2021, employment in B.C. increased in nine of the past 12 months for a net gain of 153,100 jobs. While part-time positions originally faced the steepest decline, they have since led the employment recovery with part-time jobs up by 9.1 per cent compared to September 2019. Full-time positions have also seen consistent growth over the past year, but were 1.1 per cent lower than in September 2019.

B.C.’s total workforce in September 2021 was 28,200 larger than in September 2019. However, that gain lagged considerably behind the working age population growth of 107,000 people over the same period.

Source: Globe News