Unemployment continues to rise in Kelowna, Kamloops

The unemployment rate in Canada rose slightly in April, but in Kelowna and Kamloops it’s on a steady incline.

In Kamloops in February, the unemployment rate was 4.8 per cent and in Kelowna it was 5.3 per cent. In April the rate was up to 6.3 per cent and 6.9 in those cities respectively, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey released today, May 9.

Kelowna’s unemployment rate is on par with the national average at 6.9 per cent. There was only a 0.2 per cent increase across the country in April.

The working age population in Kamloops is participating more than those in Kelowna. The participation rate in Kamloops has risen from 63 per cent in January to 70 per cent in March while Kelowna’s rate has gone from 60 per cent to 54 per cent over the same time frame.

Average hourly wages also saw a rise of $1.20 to $36.13, but B.C. is ahead of the national average at $38.24 dollars an hour.

The largest decrease in jobs was in manufacturing where Canada lost 31,000 jobs, but public administration balanced out the losses with 37,000 new jobs.

Statistics Canada said that it’s harder for folks to find work than it was a year ago. The report said 61 per cent of people who didn’t have a job in March were still unemployed in April compared to 57 per cent last year.

The survey also focused on industries reliant on the U.S. and how the trade war is showing up in employment data.

“Because of the highly integrated nature of the Canadian and U.S. economies, trade uncertainty and disruptions can have significant impacts on the labour markets of both countries,” Statistics Canada said.

Kelowna and Kamloops both ranked low on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s list of cities that would be hit hardest by tariffs back in February.

The Chamber ranked 41 cities by the amount of their economy that is dependent on exports to the U.S. and Kelowna ranked 28 and Kamloops ranked 40.

February might feel like a long time ago since the constant changes to policy have created so much economic uncertainty, but most Canadians feel secure in their jobs. 

When asked about whether workers thought they might lose their jobs 74 per cent said they wouldn’t lose their job in the next six months.

Younger workers ages 15 to 24 were most likely to think they might lose their job soon with roughly 10 per cent agreeing they could get laid off.