Canadian employment rose by a hair to 19.666 million in November, up by 10,000 (0.05 per cent). The Canadian unemployment rate fell by 0.1 to 5.1 per cent, hovering just above all-time lows. Average hourly wages were up 5.6 per cent from this time last year. Wage gains remain below the inflation rate, however, which hit 6.9 per cent year-over-year in the most-recent data. Total hours worked were up 1.8 per cent year-over-year. 

Employment in BC fell by 0.5 per cent to 2.748 million in November, while Metro Vancouver's employment rose by 0.1 per cent month over month. BC's unemployment rate rose in November to 4.4 per cent, still near record lows, while Metro Vancouver's rate rose to 4.7 per cent. Among the provinces, only Quebec and Saskatchewan currently have a lower unemployment rate. 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.