Unemployment rate edges up in Victoria, steady in B.C., says Stats Canada

Unemployment rate edges up in Victoria, steady in B.C., says Stats Canada
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Stats Canada says there were 32,000 net new jobs created in March as the national unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 per cent. The jobless rate in Victoria bumped up to 4.5 per cent in March compared to 4.4 per cent in February. Photo courtesy CBC.

Stats Canada says there were 32,000 net new jobs created in March as the national unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 per cent. The jobless rate in Victoria bumped up to 4.5 per cent in March compared to 4.4 per cent in February. Photo courtesy CBC.

Unemployment figures remained steady around the country and B.C. but edged up for the fourth consecutive month in Victoria.

Statistics Canada released job figures for March and the unemployment rate in the capital went up a tenth of a point to 4.5 per cent from 4.4 per cent in February.

Victoria had the lowest rate of unemployment nationally in November when the mark was at 3.3 per cent.

Vancouver and Abbotsford have the lowest rates in the province at 4.0 per cent and the provincial jobless figure stayed the same in March at 4.7 per cent.

B.C. has the lowest rate in the country.

Stats Canada says 32,000 net new jobs were created as the national unemployment rate was unchanged last month at 5.8 per cent.

The agency says there was a surge in full-time positions last month, with 68,300 employed full-time, with 19,600 new employees in the public sector.

Private-sector workers dropped by 7,000 and there were 35,900 lost part-time jobs.

The report also showed growth in hourly-wages by 3.3 per cent in March, up from 3.1 in February.

Hourly wage growth has been under scrutiny by the Bank of Canada ahead of its next interest-rate announcement later this month.

With files from the Canadian Press.

Andy NealAndy Neal

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