The local jobless indictator fell in July for the third straight month when compared to figures from a year earlier.
Statistics Canada says the Kootenay rate stood at 5.2 per cent, compared to 5.9 per cent in July 2026. That was lower than the provincial rate of 6.2 per cent and the national rate of 6.4 per cent. However, the local rate was up from 4.6 per cent in June.
The population and number of people working in our area grew while the number of people looking for work declined from a year earlier. According to StatsCan, last month an estimated 88,100 people had jobs and 4,800 were looking for work out of a population of 151,200. In 2025, there were 85,400 people working and 5,400 unemployed out of a population of 150,200.
A chart showing the monthly rate in the Kootenays as compared to the previous year can be found below.
| Month | 2026 rate | 2025 rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.9 | 3.8 | +2.1 |
| February | 6.4 | 4.4 | +2.0 |
| March | 7.1 | 5.7 | +1.4 |
| April | 6.5 | 6.3 | +0.2 |
| May | 5.2 | 6.7 | -1.5 |
| June | 4.6 | 6.3 | -1.7 |
| July | 5.2 | 5.9 | -0.7 |
Nationally, employment increased by 75,000 jobs. Employment rose among people ages 25 to 54, mostly among women in that age group.
Industries that saw employment gains included wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing; professional, scientific and technical services; and construction. Industries that saw employment declines included public administration and agriculture.
There were more people working in Ontario, BC, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.
Average hourly wages among employees were up 2.8 per cent, or $1.01 to $37.17 year-over-year.
