THE NORTHWEST jobless rate was virtually unchanged from October to November, indicate figures released today by Statistics Canada.
In September the jobless rate was 10.5 per cent, dropping very slightly to 10.3 per cent in October.
That dip is reflected in the number of people considered unemployed – 4,400 in October compared to 4,500 in September.
The labour force, defined as people who are working as well as people who are looking for work, remained the same at 42,900.
Overall, the northwest jobless picture is dimmer than last year at this time when the jobless rate was 8.2 per cent.
Last October the labour force was calculated to be 48,800, a clear 5,900 people more than October’s tally of 42,900 people.
B.C.’s overall jobless rate fell to 0.3 percentage points from September to October, to 6.7 per cent, as fewer people regarded themselves as being part of the workforce.
As well, the number of workers in B.C. dropped by 11,000 from September to October.
Year-over-year employment growth for the province was 1.3%, indicates Statistics Canada.
The theme of very little movement from September to October was also reflected in the national rate. It was 7.4 per cent in October, the same as it was in September.
The northwest jobless rate is not the number of people collecting Employment Insurance.
Instead it is based on interviews of people from the north coast to just this side of Vanderhoof who consider themselves as part of the workforce whether they are employed or not.
