Canadian employment rose by 21,000 (0.1 per cent) to 19.547 million in September, after falling for the prior three months. The Canadian unemployment rate fell by 0.2 to 5.2 per cent, hovering just above all-time lows, as fewer Canadians looked for work in September. Average hourly wages were up 5.2 per cent from this time last year. Wage gains remain below the inflation rate, however, which hit 7 per cent year-over-year in the most-recent data. Total hours worked were up 2.4 per cent year-over-year.

Employment in BC jumped by 1.2 per cent to 2.752 million in September, while Metro Vancouver's employment rose by 0.5 per cent month over month. BC's unemployment rate fell sharply in September to 4.3 per cent, with Metro Vancouver falling to 4.5 per cent. Among the provinces, only Saskatchewan currently has a lower unemployment rate. 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.