Regional unemployment fell in June, still relatively high

Jul 10, 2026 | 12:20 PM

The labour force in the Thompson Okanagan improved last month, but joblessness remained fairly high.

Statistics Canada reported the economic region that includes Vernon had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 7.5 per cent in June.

That rate was an improvement from the 8.1 per cent unemployed in May, but still well above the 5.9 per cent rate recorded in June of 2025.

The latest unemployment rate was also the second highest of any economic region in the province during the most recent reporting month, with only Northeast B.C. having a higher rate of 8.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Thompson-Okanagan had an unadjusted employment rate of 56.4 per cent in June.

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That marked an improvement on both a monthly and yearly basis, as the rate was recorded at 55.2 per cent in May and at 55.9 per cent in June of 2025.

However, it was still the second lowest unemployment rate of any economic region in B.C., with only Vancouver Island and Coast having a lower rate at 56.1 per cent.

Statistics Canada did not have specific data for Vernon, but did have some troubling news for Kelowna, as it had the highest unemployment rate of any metropolitan area in B.C.

The Central Okanagan city had an adjusted unemployment rate of 9.2 per cent in June. That was up from 9.0 per cent in May and well above the rate of 5.9 per cent in June of 2025.

Other metropolitan areas in the province with high unemployment were Abbotsford-Mission (8.3 per cent unemployed), Chilliwack (8.0), and Nanaimo (7.4).

Meanwhile, Kelowna’s adjusted employment rate was 59.0 per cent in June, marking increases from the rates of 58.0 per cent in May and of 55.1 per cent in June of 2025. Kelowna also had the third lowest employment in the latest reporting month after Nanaimo (57.0) and Chilliwack (57.4).

The local rates were not reflective of the provincial figures.

In June, B.C. had an adjusted unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent, down from 6.8 per cent the month before. Employment was recorded at 60.7 per cent, up from 60.5 per cent in May.

“[Statistic Canada’s] Labour Force Survey reflects B.C.’s resilience, with B.C. adding 7,800 jobs in June 2026. Two-thirds of that growth is in full-time employment, and the largest increase in youth employment in Canada,” Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, said in a release.

“In the past two months, B.C. has created 33,000 new jobs.

“B.C. continues to lead the country with an average hourly wage of $38.63, the highest among provinces.”

StatsCan data also showed B.C. had the fourth lowest unemployment rate of any province in June after Manitoba (5.4), Quebec (5.4), and Saskatchewan (6.1). Nova Scotia also had an unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent in the most recent reporting month.

Meanwhile, Canada as a whole had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent and an employment rate of 60.8 per cent in June.

Those were both improved from May’s figures of 6.6 per cent unemployed and 60.7 per cent employed.

StatsCan said employment was up among youth and core-aged people across Canada in June, but there were declines in working older adults. There were also increases in accommodation and food services employments, though jobs in manufacturing, agriculture and utilities did decrease.

This was the second month in a row where the national unemployment rate saw a decline.

by Liam Verster

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