Region’s jobless rate sees small bump

June unemployment at 4.2%, up from May, but still one of the lowest in Canada

Greater Victoria’s unemployment rate remains one of the lowest in Canada despite a slight monthly increase.

June’s unemployment rate was 4.2 per cent in the capital region, tied with Oshawa, Ont., for third place. Greater Victoria’s rate was 3.9 per cent in May, Statistics Canada states in its monthly report. Peterborough Ont., came in with the lowest rate at 2.7 per cent, followed by Quebec City at 3.8 per cent.

The many store-front helpwanted sign in the region illustrate how desperate employers are for workers. The federal Job Bank website alone showed 667 job openings in the capital region.

One company, on another employment site, promotes itself to potential employees by saying two dogs are regular visitors and if workers want a “mental shift” they can scratch the dogs’ tummies.

Another says it offers a competitive salary and full benefits and will pay for a gym membership, books and more.

The tight job market is exacerbated by retiring baby boomers. Skilled trades are in high demand throughout the province. B.C. had the country’s lowest unemployment rate among provinces, at 4.8 per cent, last month.

In B.C., employment was little changed both on a monthly and a year-over-year-basis. The unemployment rate in the province increased by 0.4 percentage points to 5.2 per cent in June, the result of more people looking for work, the federal agency said. The national unemployment rate is higher at six per cent.

On a monthly basis, June saw a total of 199,400 people working in Greater Victoria, up from 199,100 in May.

Overall, employment in the capital region climbed by 8,600 between June of last year and June 2018, a StatsCan official said.

The wholesale and retail trade sector experienced a year-overyear increase to 33,500 from 28,300.

Educational services came in with higher numbers, too, with 17,600 working, up from 13,500.

Construction numbers rose as well with 18,600 workers employed in June, compared with 16,100 the previous year.

The accounting and food services sector saw a decline to 12,800 in June, from 15,200 the previous year.