The unemployment rate in the Kootenays was higher last month than a year earlier, but still lower than the provincial and national averages.
Statistics Canada says the local jobless rate stood at 6.5 per cent in April, compared to 6.3 per cent in April 2025.
The estimated population increased from 149,800 to 151,000 year-over-year, the number of people working grew from 82,600 to 83,300, and the number of people looking for work grew from 5,600 to 5,800.
BC’s unemployment rate stood at 6.8 per cent last month, while the national rate was 6.9 per cent.
Overall, StatsCan says the economy shed 18,000 jobs in April. The unemployment rate increased among youth aged 15 to 24 and men ages 25 to 54 and stayed the same across other age groups.
Average hourly wages among employees were up 4.5 per cent to $37.77 per hour year-over-year.
