The number of people on welfare in B.C. has risen significantly, as the slumping economy takes its toll leaving many who could work unable to find jobs.

The latest numbers from the Ministry of Housing and Social Development show the number of people on social assistance who were able and expected to work has increased 49.8 per cent in the last six months.

In March, there were 32,000 people who were defined as able to work on welfare — an increase of 10,000 people from September — according to the B.C. Employment and Assistance summary report for March.

The province's unemployment rate hit 7.4 per cent in March. The social assistance case numbers showed that single men and two-parent families were hardest hit by the slump. The ministry found that the number of:

• Two-parent families rose by 71 per cent to 1,695 cases.
• Single men rose by 61 per cent to 17,090 cases.
• Couples with no children rose by 53 per cent to 929 cases.
• Single women rose by 39 per cent to 7,148 cases.
• Single-parent families rose by 27 per cent to 5,152 cases.
• Overall the number of people on welfare rose 26.2 per cent to 50,537 cases.
• People defined as unable to work because of persistent multiple barriers fell nearly four per cent in the past 12 months to 6,715 cases.

According to a 2008 report by the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C., welfare rates in the province fall far short of covering daily expenses.

Wendy Pederson, an activist with Raise the Rates, which was been campaigning for higher welfare rates, said the new recipients will soon find out they can't get by on social assistance.

"Welfare rates are abysmally low. And I don't know how people are going to survive. How will they pay their rents? An average one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $900 a month," she said Friday morning.

A single adult who is expected to work receives a monthly cheque for $610, while two parents who are expected to work, and have five children, receive $1,221 a month.