The Kootenay-Boundary region saw an increase of 5,900 jobs in the last year, according to figures released by B.C. Stats.
Buoyed by B.C.'s primary industries, there was an increase of 8,400 jobs in forestry, fishing, mining and gas extraction, and 4,200 jobs in construction, to account for an increase of 48,900 jobs.
Overall, B.C. gained 2,900 full-time jobs in September. This gain was off-set by a decrease of 8,200 part-time jobs, resulting in an overall loss of 5,400 jobs.
Compared to last month, there has been an increase of 12,800 private-sector jobs. Private-sector gains have also been strong over the last five months. Since April of this year, private-sector employment is up 48,900 jobs.
The unemployment rate is now at 6.7 per cent, a slight increase of 0.1 per cent but still below the national average of 6.9 per cent.
The youth (aged 15-24) unemployment rate is down to 11.4 per cent in September from 13.1 per cent in August.
In addition, the average hourly wage for youth was up by 4.7 per cent in September. The average hourly wage rate for B.C. in September was also up by 2.5 per cent compared with September 2012.