Despite the global economy the provincial government says the province is trending in the right direction in growth.
Minister of jobs, economic development and innovation Brenda Bailey says the province has gained more jobs since last year and the forecasting growth across all industries of employment since 2023.
“BC’s unemployment rate is 5.2 per cent, the second lowest rate among the provinces and below the national average,” Bailey says. “We once again have the highest average hourly wage in June, and the highest GDP growth [16.9 per cent] among the large provinces since 2017.”
Bailey adds the province has so far seen the most growth in wholesale and retail trade jobs, business, building and other support jobs which is encouraging, but the government is still working to put programs in place to create more opportunities.
“Today’s data shows increases of 14,000 wholesale and retail trade jobs, 3,200 business, and other support services jobs, and 6,900 construction jobs,” she says. “And we continue to create thousands of construction jobs by investing in the roads, affordable housing, transit, hospitals and schools people need.
The province says they’re also focused on bringing more jobs in healthcare including 92 cancer-care physicians, 71 oncologists and 32 radiation therapists along with the 30,000 jobs gained in health care and social services.
