Unemployment rates fall in Kelowna and Kamloops

The unemployment rates in Kamloops and Kelowna have started returning to normal from recent dramatic highs, but the number of people in the workforce has dropped over the same time frame.

The unemployment rate in Kelowna was down to 6.3 per cent in February compared to 10.4 per cent in November and 9.3 per cent in October. In Kamloops, the unemployment rate has dropped from 9.6 per cent in October to 3.8 per cent in February, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. 

Unemployment was down in Kelowna from 15,300 people in November to 8,500 people in February, and in Kamloops it fell from 6,100 in November to 2,600 in February. 

Between October and February Kelowna’s labour force fell from 146,600 to 135,500 and in Kamloops it went from 73,200 to 68,700. 

Even though Kelowna saw a decrease in the unemployment rate, there are actually fewer people working in the city. 

In October Kelowna had 133,000 people employed and in February it was down to 126,900.

Kamloops’ employment fluctuated over the past several months but has stayed relatively steady around 64,000 to 66,000 over the past few months.  

Both cities saw drops in the labour participation rate. Kelowna’s participation rate was 69.6 per cent in October and in February it was 64.3 per cent. Kamloops went from a 68.8 per cent participation rate in October to 66.2 per cent in February.

The provincial rate dropped from 6.4 to 6.2 per cent and the national unemployment went from 7 per cent to 6.7 per cent. 

Employment across the country went down by 84,000 in February, and 20,000 of those losses were in B.C.