Canadian employment growth was very strong to start 2019. Total employment expanded by 67,000 jobs in January, a 1.8 per cent increase on a year-over-year basis.  The national unemployment rate increased by 0.2 points to 5.8 per cent due to growth in the number of Canadians actively looking for work.

In BC, employment grew by 8,700 jobs in January, though gains were concentrated entirely in part-time work.  On a year-over-year basis, employment was up 2.5 per cent. The provincial unemployment rate ticked 0.3 points higher to 4.7 per cent, the lowest rate of unemployment in Canada.

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.