Number of jobless across Canada hits 1.5 million as unemployment rate increases again

Canada’s unemployment rate was up in November.

Statistics Canada said it increased to 6.8 per cent, the highest it’s been since January 2017 (excluding the COVID-19 era).

In October, it was 6.5 per cent.

In British Columbia, however, the rate fell to 5.7 per cent. It was 5.8 per cent in the previous month.

Only Saskatchewan (5.6 per cent) had a lower unemployment rate in November.

In BC’s metropolitan areas, unemployment last month was as follows:

• Kelowna: 4.7 per cent, up from 4.5 per cent in October

• Abbotsford-Mission: 5.7 per cent, down from 6.1 per cent in October

• Vancouver: 6.4 per cent, unchanged from October

• Victoria: 3.7 per cent, unchanged from October

According to StatsCan, Victoria had the lowest unemployment rate among all of Canada’s major urban areas.

Quebec City was next-lowest, followed by Kelowna.

The cities with the highest unemployment rates were Windsor, Edmonton and Toronto.

StatsCan said the Canadian economy added 51,000 jobs in November.

Wages, too, were up 4.1 per cent last month compared with November 2023.

But the jobless rate, which has been trending upwards since last April, continues to rise.

According to November’s data, overall employment increased in wholesale and retail trade, construction, professional and scientific services and educational services.

It declined, however, in manufacturing, transportation and natural resources.

StatsCan said the total number of jobless people in Canada last month was 1.5 million, an increase of 87,000 compared with October and 276,000 compared with November 2023.

It comes as the Bank of Canada is set to make its final interest rate announcement of 2024 on Dec. 11.

The rate is now at 3.75 per cent.