Regional unemployment rate rose in May

Jun 9, 2025 | 12:11 PM

The economic region that includes the Okanagan saw its unemployment rise in May, though so did employment.

Statistics Canada said the Thompson-Okanagan area had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent during the latest reporting month. That was up from April’s rate of 6.4 per cent, and well above the 5.0 per cent rate recorded in May of 2024.

However, the regional unadjusted employment rate was recorded at 54.5 per cent in May. That was up from the rate of 53.0 per cent in April, though down from May of 2024 when the rate was 55.9 per cent.

The Thompson-Okanagan’s participation rate, which indicates the amount of the population within working ages, was 58.4 per cent this past May. That was up from April’s participation rate of 56.6 per cent, though down slightly from the rate of 58.8 per cent the previous May.

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

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The Central Okanagan’s major city saw its adjusted unemployment rate rise to 7 per cent in May, after being recorded at 6.9 per cent in April.

However, Kelowna’s employment rate increased from 51.1 per cent in April to 52.7 per cent in May. The city’s participation rate also climbed to 56.7 per cent in the most recent reporting month, up from 54.9 in April.

In all of B.C., the adjusted unemployment rate was recorded at 6.4 per cent, the employment rate was 61.3 per cent, and the participation rate was 65.6 per cent in May.

Those marked slight changes from the April’s rates of 6.2 per cent unemployed, 61.1 per cent employed, and 65.1 per cent participating in the work force.

StatsCan’s report noted B.C.’s rates were better than the national figures.

Canada’s unemployment rate in May was 7.0 per cent, the employment rate was 60.8 per cent, and the participation rate was 65.3 per cent. The unemployment rate was up slightly from the 6.9 per cent recorded the month before, though the employment and participation rates were unchanged on a monthly basis.

StasCan’s figures also showed that B.C. had the fifth lowest unemployment rate of any province, after Saskatchewan (4.2 per cent), Quebec (5.8) Manitoba (5.9), and New Brunswick (6.3).

It also showed B.C. had the fourth highest employment rate in May after Saskatchewan (64.0), Alberta (63.4), and Manitoba (62.3).

by Liam Verster

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