BC loses 16,000 jobs in July

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.”

The industries experiencing the greatest decline were information, culture, and recreation, which declined by 29,000 (-3.3%) in July. The housing market’s overall decline also showed up as a reduction in construction jobs, which dropped by 22,000 (-1.3%) in July. Business, building, and other support services lost 19,000 jobs, a 2.8% decline. 

Health care and social assistance added 54,000 jobs, an increase of 1.9% in July. While transportation and warehousing also experienced some growth, adding 26,000 jobs, an increase of 2.4%. 

In a statement in response to the report, BC minister of jobs and economic growth, Ravi Kahlon, blamed the trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump for the rising unemployment in the province. 

“Today’s Labour Force Survey shows the impact of U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s tariff threats is being felt across the country, but BC will continue the work to defend workers and businesses against these threats, build a strong economy that’s less reliant on the U.S. and create jobs for people in British Columbia,” Kahlon said. “In July, BC saw job losses compared to last month, but so far this year, BC has gained 21,400 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces.” 

The Conservative Caucus of British Columbia released a statement in response to the Labour Market Survey, blaming the BC NDP for the job losses. However, it is worth noting that United Conservative Party-led Alberta lost even more jobs than BC, with a decline of 17,000 jobs (-0.6%) in July. The Alberta unemployment rate is 7.8%, while in BC the unemployment rate is 5.9%.