Regional unemployment rate stayed flat in January

Feb 7, 2025 | 1:22 PM

The economic region that includes Vernon and the Okanagan did not see a change to it’s unemployment rate on a monthly basis in January.

Statistics Canada said the unadjusted unemployment rate for the Thompson-Okanagan economic region was 5.2 per cent in the first month of 2025.

That was unchanged compared to the figure from December of 2024, though it was up from the rate of 4.9 per cent recorded the previous January.

Meanwhile, the unadjusted employment rate for the region was recorded at 54.6 per cent in January, 2025.

That figure was down from December’s rate of 54.9 per cent, but unchanged on a January-to-January comparison .

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StatCan did not provide specific data for Vernon, but did have figures for Kelowna.

The data collection agency said Kelowna had an adjusted unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent, along with an employment rate of 57.7 per cent in January.

Kelowna’s rates improved since December, when unemployment was recorded at 5.2 per cent and employment at 57.4 per cent.

Provincially, there were some fluctuations to the labour force statistics.

StatsCan said B.C. had an adjusted unemployment rate of 6.0 per cent in January, up from 5.9 per cent in December.

However, B.C.’s adjusted employment rate increased from 60.9 per cent in December to 61.3 per cent in January.

Diana Gibson, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, said the province was going “full steam ahead” to strengthen the economy with the looming threats of tariffs from the United States.

“We’re standing strong and defending British Columbians, workers, and industries against tariff threats from the United States. We are encouraged by the news that there will be a 30 day pause on the tariffs. Now, it’s full steam ahead on strengthening our economy to defend B.C. from this threat,” Gibson said in a written statement.

“We are fast-tracking major economic projects to deliver good paying, family-supporting jobs throughout the entire province and we are working hard to get B.C. goods to new markets, including the ongoing push to knock down trade barriers within Canada. So many people are coming together to buy B.C. and support Canadian products first.”

Gibson added B.C. gained 10,300 private-sector jobs in January, the third largest of any province, and that 19 ,900 full-time jobs had been added since last December, which was the second most of any province.

B.C. also had the fourth lowest unemployment rate of any province behind Saskatchewan (5.4 per cent), Quebec (5.4), and Nova Scotia (5.9); as well as the sixth highest employment rate after Alberta (64.2 per cent), Saskatchewan (63.3), Manitoba (62.9), Prince Edward Island (61.9), and Quebec (61.5).

British Columbia’s figures were also better than the national labour numbers.

StatsCan said Canada as a whole had an adjusted unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent in January, and an employment rate of 61.1 per cent.

The national figures were slightly improved from December’s rates of 6.7 per cent unemployed and 61.0 per cent employed.

StatsCan noted January marked the third consecutive month of national employment increases.

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by Liam Verster

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