The number of people working in Prince George dropped by 4,500 between January and February, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday.
In January, there were 54,300 people holding down jobs in the city. By February, that had dropped to 49,800.
The number of unemployed people actively seeking work in the city grew from 1,900 in January to 3,500 in February, and the city’s unemployment rate jumped from 3.4 per cent to 6.6 per cent.
The city’s labour force participation rate, the percentage of people working or actively seeking work, dropped from 68.5 per cent to 63.9 per cent.
By comparison, in February 2022 there were 54,200 people working in the city, 1,800 people actively looking for work and the city’s unemployment rate was 3.2 per cent. The city’s labour force participation rate in February 2022 was 68.1 per cent, Statistics Canada reported.
Prince George’s February unemployment rate was higher than the B.C. (5.1 per cent) and national (five per cent) averages.
"We know the global economic headwinds ahead of us - ongoing effects of the pandemic, rising inflation, as well as economic slowdowns - have placed pressure on B.C.'s economy and are presenting real challenges for families and businesses,” B.C. Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey said in a statement released on Friday. “At a time of economic uncertainty, B.C. continues to demonstrate resiliency. B.C. added 6,700 new jobs in February, and the unemployment rate is at 5.1 (per cent), remaining one of the lowest in the country.”
