By Matt Fetinko

Concerning trend

BC loses jobs for third straight month; unemployment up slightly in Prince George

Sep 6, 2019 | 2:57 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The unemployment rate in Prince George is sitting at 4.9 per cent, a slight increase from the 4.3 per cent last month. The other factor is participation, which is over 73 per cent.

Employment increases in Prince George came in Transportation, Warehousing, mining, oil and gas, and oddly enough, forestry. Decreases, though, were seen in construction and manufacturing, the latter largely coming from curtailments and closures. It’s introducing the region to a more diverse workforce than before.

Bigger picture, unemployment has risen to five percent for the province as a whole. With that increase, BC no longer holds the title of lowest rate in the country. Still, both Prince George and the province sit below the national unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent.