Canada's domes-tic economy turned in one of the strongest job creation months of the year in September, adding an 52,100 new jobs that was five times more than economists expected.
In B.C., job growth edged up slightly in Victoria and other regions while it slipped in Vancouver. B.C. Labour Minister Pat Bell said there were 5,700 new jobs created in the province in September and that most of them were related to international education services.
The bulk of the job growth occurred outside of the Lower Mainland, including Prince George, which added 700 jobs in September and set a new record for monthly job growth. The unemployment rate in northwest B.C. has decreased to 10.5 per cent, from 11.8 per cent in August.
"I think the key is for us to make sure that we're providing every possible opportunity we can for training in the region and to work with people who are finding it challenging to find positions," Bell said.
Across the province, the unemployment rate has increased to 7 per cent, up from 6.7 per cen.
Greater Victoria contributed to the labour force at the same time its unemployment rate inched up to six per cent in September from 5.9 per cent in August.
The capital's labour force (those working and willing to work) moved up to 194,700 last month from 193,800 in August.
Employment climbed by 800 to 183,100 in September from 182,300 the previous month. The number of unemployed increased by 200 monthly to 11,600, the federal agency said.
Victoria's total employment rose by 4,000 for the first nine months of this year, said Statistics Canada spokesman Vincent Ferrao.
Sectors which have seen yearly job growth include the category with financing, leasing, real estate and insurance, where 12,600 people were employed in September, an increase from 10,400 in September 2011, he said.
Health care and social assistance jobs also increased yearly, to 29,800 from 24,200. Education employment moved up to 12,300 from 10,400.
Job losses were seen in public administration, which dropped yearly from 21,000 to 18,800. Accommodation and food services also lost jobs, with last month's numbers at 11,800 from 14,800. The construction sector also saw employment numbers decline to 11,400 last month from 13,800 the previous year.
PROVINCES
Unemployment rates for September, with previous month in parentheses.
Newfoundland 12.3 (12.7)
Prince Edward Island 11.2 (11.7)
Nova Scotia 8.6 (9.7)
New Brunswick 11.0 (10.04)
Quebec 8.0 (7.6)
Ontario 7.9 (8.0)
Manitoba 5.0 (5.4)
Saskatchewan 4.7 (4.4)
Alberta 4.4 (4.4)
British Columbia 7.0 (6.7)
CITIES
Seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities. The figures may fluctuate because they are based on small statistical samples.
St. John's, N.L. 7.1 (7.1)
Halifax 5.7 (6.5)
Saint John, N.B. 9.1 (9.0)
Quebec 5.4 (5.2)
Montreal 8.2 (8.4)
Ottawa 6.6 (6.4)
Kingston, Ont. 6.5 (6.6)
Oshawa, Ont. 9.0 (8.9)
Toronto 8.5 (8.5)
Hamilton, Ont. 6.8 (7.3)
London, Ont. 8.5 (8.6)
Windsor, Ont. 9.0 (9.2)
Thunder Bay, Ont. 6.3 (6.3)
Winnipeg 5.5 (5.7)
Regina 4.0 (4.2)
Saskatoon 5.4 (5.3)
Calgary 4.7 (4.6)
Edmonton 4.5 (4.5)
Kelowna 5.4 (4.1)
Abbotsford 7.3 (7.3)
Vancouver 7.0 (6.8)
Victoria 6.0 (5.9)
Statistics Canada
