Year-over-year unemployment rate in Prince George rises in January

PRINCE GEORGE — Statistics Canada released its job numbers on Friday, with Prince George seeing a slight rise in its year-over-year unemployment rate.

Labour Analyst Vincent Ferrao says the unemployment rate in January was 6.8 per cent in Prince George, up from 5.9 per cent a year earlier.

He says 3,900 people were unemployed, up from 3,200 a year ago, though more people are working.

Ferrao attributes that to a rise in the participation rate to 67.2 per cent, up from 64.6 per cent in January 2023. The participation rate is the percentage of people working or looking for work, which includes individuals from the ages of 15 and up.