BRITISH COLUMBIA – Canadian employment remained essentially unchanged at 20.17 million in July. The Canadian unemployment rate rose to 5.5 per cent from 5.4 per cent in June, rising for the third consecutive month. Total hours worked were up 2.1 per cent year over year, while average hourly wages were up 5 per cent from July of last year.
Employment in BC was also little changed in July holding steady at 2.79 million, while employment in Metro Vancouver rose 0.2 per cent to 1.57 million. The unemployment rate fell to 5.4 per cent in BC, down from 5.6 per cent in June, while rising to 6 per cent in Metro Vancouver.
