Regional unemployment on the rise

Apr 10, 2026 | 12:03 PM

The economic region that includes Vernon saw a large jump in the unemployment rate last month.

Statistics Canada said the Thompson-Okanagan had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 7.8 per cent in March.

That was more than a point from February’s rate of 6.5 per cent, and up almost two points from the rate of 6.1 per cent in March of 2025.

Meanwhile, the unadjusted employment rate for the Thompson-Okanagan was recorded at 55.5 per cent this past March. StatsCan noted that was down from February when the rate was 56.6 per cent, though was an improvement from March of last year when the rate was 52.5 per cent.

StatsCan did not provide rates specifically for Vernon, but did have figures for Kelowna.

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The Central Okanagan city had an adjusted unemployment rate of 7.0 per cent in March, marking a noticeable increase from the 6.3 per cent rate the month before. Kelowna’s adjusted employment rate was also recorded at 58.6 per cent, down from 60.2 in February.

The trend of rising unemployment was also seen provincially.

StatsCan said B.C. had an unemployment rate of 6.7 per cent in March, up from the rate of 6.1 per cent in February.

“U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran are significantly impacting the global economy and causing supply chain issues all over the world, and people and businesses are feeling the effects,” Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, said in a release in response to the figures provided by StatsCan.

“Here in British Columbia, we are laser-focused on ensuring the right conditions are in place, in partnership with the private sector, to grow a more sustainable economy that’s less reliant on outside forces. That includes building the major projects that produce and sell the natural resources that B.C. has, and the world needs, and powering those projects with clean, renewable energy.”

B.C’s employment rate was recorded at 60.1 per cent in March, down from the rate of 60.5 the month before.

“Despite overall losses last month as we see the impacts of Trump’s tariffs hitting B.C., [the report from Statistics Canada] shows that B.C.’s economy is showing signs of strength in a number of key sectors, with 3,700 more jobs in manufacturing and 2,800 more jobs in construction. In addition, self-employment was up by 13,300, which reflects people’s confidence in starting their own businesses,” Kahlon said.

“In the past year, B.C. has gained 11,500 construction jobs, which is a positive trend and demonstrates the work underway to build the major projects and infrastructure we need to grow our economy. Employment in agriculture is also up 8,900 jobs over the past year.”

The rise in unemployment did see B.C. fall to having the sixth lowest rate of any province after Saskatchewan (5.0), Quebec (5.4), Manitoba (5.6), Alberta (6.5), and Nova Scotia (6.6).

B.C.’s unemployment rate also aligned with the national figure of 6.7 per cent recorded in March, which was unchanged on a monthly basis. The national employment rate was 60.6 per cent in the most recent reporting month, which was also unchanged.

StatsCan said that, across Canada, employment held steady for all major age groups in March.

It stated employment rose in the “other services” industry, which includes personal and repair services, and in the natural resource sector. However, it did report declines in finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing employment.

by Liam Verster

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