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- Monday - August 11 - Rents fall 3.6% nationwide
Monday - August 11 - Rents fall 3.6% nationwide
Lubna El Elaimy
August 11, 2025
☀️High 30C
Good morning!
Hope you had a great weekend! It seems like summer isn’t done with us yet, and today will be another warm day. Make sure to stay hydrated, avoid the midday sun if you can, and stay in a cool place.
If you’re looking for work, I’m afraid the job market situation is pretty grim. According to the latest Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada, the news isn’t great. Unemployment is high at almost 7%; BC lost 16,000 jobs, and Canada lost 41,000 jobs in July alone. Unemployment among young people is at an all-time high.
Of course, it could be worse. Last I heard, nobody in Canada lost their jobs for reporting on all the lost jobs, unlike the unfortunate head of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
On a more positive note, at least for renters, rents are going down nationwide. Rent is still higher overall than before COVID, but the decline shows no sign of stopping soon.
– Lubna
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Traffic & Weather
🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope
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News
BC loses 16,000 jobs in July
Source: Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada released its Labour Force Survey on Friday, August 8, and the numbers show unemployment is rising throughout the country.
Canada lost 41,000 jobs in July, partly offsetting the increase in June of 83,000 jobs (0.4%). BC alone experienced a loss of 16,000 jobs (0.5%).
The most significant decline in employment was among youth. The age group of 15 to 24 lost 34,000 jobs, representing a 1.2% drop in employment. According to the Statistics Canada report, youth unemployment reached 14.6% in July, the highest rate since September 2010, excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. Over the past two years, youth unemployment has increased steadily and was up 4.3% compared with July 2023.
“Among the five largest racialized groups, the unemployment rate was highest among Arab youth in July, at 26.4%. Unemployment rates were also elevated for Black (23.4%), Chinese (20.5%), Filipino (19.4%), and South Asian (17.1%) youth,” the report said. “In comparison, the unemployment rate for non-racialized and non-Indigenous youth stood at 12% in July.”
Related
Need to Know
🥍 Mission's U15 girls lacrosse team won the provincial championship in Nanaimo with an undefeated tournament record, outscoring opponents 35-5 across five games. [Mission City Record]
💔 A motorcyclist died when their southbound bike collided with a left-turning SUV at 80 Avenue and 200 Street in Langley, with police determining excessive speed played a role in the crash. [Langley Advance Times]
☕ The former Hilltop Cafe building in Aldergrove, which operated for nearly 80 years before closing in 2024, has been renovated to serve as sales offices for Diverse Auto Group while preserving its heritage exterior. [Langley Advance Times]
🚧 The $25.9 million Fraser Highway widening project between the 24300 and 24600 blocks in Langley is progressing well and expected to be close to completion by spring 2026. [Langley Advance Times]
🐱 A cat named Simon required leg amputation after being discovered in an Abbotsford crawlspace with a deteriorated cast that had caused severe bone exposure and tissue death from an old untreated injury. [Abby News]
🔥 Three people were rescued from balconies using ladders during an apartment fire in Chilliwack that started in a dryer and damaged five units. [The Progress]
🌧️ Recent rainfall helped reduce activity on the 224-hectare Bear Creek wildfire north of Harrison Hot Springs, bringing it down to a smouldering ground fire while crews establish containment barriers. [The Progress]
⛰️ Search and rescue teams conducted a nighttime technical rescue of two climbers on Yak Peak near Hope, one of whom had sustained a head injury, requiring coordinated efforts from multiple specialized teams. [The Progress]
🏠 Housing prices for detached homes, townhouses, and apartments in Mission all declined in July compared to the same month last year, with total sales also dropping. [Mission City Record]
⚖️ A first-degree murderer who was transferred from minimum to medium security prison for allegedly kissing a female correctional manager has been ordered by B.C. Supreme Court to return to minimum security. [Fraser Valley Today]
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The Agenda
Chart showing the rental market in Canada over the past year | Rentals.ca/Urbanation
Rents fall 3.6% nationwide, Langley rents down 9.3%
The Canadian real estate market continues its downward slide with rents declining by 3.6% Canada-wide compared to 2024. For the tenth consecutive month, rents have fallen especially in large metro areas such as the Greater Vancouver area and Calgary.
According to the National Rent Report by Rentals.ca and Urbanation, Burnaby experienced the sharpest decline in the Lower Mainland, with a year-over-year drop of 11.6% for one-bedroom apartments and 9.3% for two-bedroom units. In the Fraser Valley, Langley experienced the greatest decline in rents, with a drop of 9.3% year-over-year in one-bedroom rentals and 4% for two-bedroom rentals. Average rents in Langley are $1,998 for a one-bedroom and $2,538 for a two-bedroom.
Interestingly, Saskatchewan is simultaneously the most affordable rental market and the fastest growing Canada-wide. Saskatchewan recorded 4% growth for apartments and condos at an average of $1,384. Saskatchewan rents are approximately 34% below the national average. The second-highest three-year growth for apartment and condo rents was in Alberta (27.4%), followed by Manitoba (21.8%).
“Canada’s rental market is experiencing a prolonged softening phase, with price declines accelerating across most provinces and unit types,” said David Aizikov, manager of data services at Rentals.ca. “With the seasonal peak now behind us, we expect continued downward pressure on rents heading into the fall.”
Despite the recent decline, rents are still 2% higher than two years ago and 11% higher than three years ago.
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🗓 Things to do
Live music at Farmhouse Brewing: Music Mondays feature local musicians every Monday from 5:30-8:30pm, with Jada Leroux performing August 11.
Free yoga in Jubilee Park: Weekly classes every Wednesday from 6-7pm throughout the summer at 2552 McCallum Rd. in Abbotsford, with restaurant discounts available for pre-registered attendees.
Garden centre and farm-to-table dining: Spend an afternoon exploring the destination garden centre at The Agora & Apothecary at Tanglebank Estate, with dining available on their timber garden patio.
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