British Columbia showed strong and stable growth with a gain of 8,900 jobs last month and a drop in the overall unemployment rate to 6.3 per cent.
The province gained 21,600 full-time jobs. This was offset by the loss of 12,700 part-time jobs.
The overall unemployment rate fell throughout the province by 0.5 percentage points over last month. Over the last year, unemployment rates fell in a number of cities as well—Prince George fell to 3.8 per cent, Kamloops fell to 4.5 per cent, Nanaimo fell to 3.7 per cent and Chilliwack fell to 6.3 per cent.
Compared to this time last year, employment is up by 7,300 in the Vancouver Island and Coast region; up by 1,300 in the Lower Mainland/Southwest; Kootenay is up by 5,300; and the North Coast and Nechako saw an increase of 1,500. The unemployment rate in the North Coast and Nechako now is sitting at 6.7 per cent, down considerably from 12.2 per cent one year ago.
Employment among youth increased in June by 6,600 jobs compared to last month, and the youth unemployment rate fell to 11.2 per cent. Women (over 24 years old) also fared well by adding 3,100 positions, while men (over 24 years old) lost 900 positions.
In June, strong gains were recorded in the trade sector, which gained 12,200 jobs; agriculture added 5,300 jobs; and health care and social assistance gained 6,600 jobs.
The biggest losses were felt in the information, culture and recreation sector, which lost 15,800 jobs, and in the public administration sector, which lost 7,900 jobs.