B.C. jobless rate bright spot in Canada

B.C. stands out according to Statistics Canada's most recent look at joblessness, with the unemployment rate in this province falling to 5.6 per cent.

The province has the lowest unemployment rate — and the strongest growth rate — in the country, according to the data.

The rate fell last month three-tenths of a percentage point, while in other provinces it climbed.

About 12,000 people found jobs in B.C. in July this year.

Over the past year a total of 85,000 jobs were added to the economy.

While B.C.'s rate falls, national numbers show a different story — the unemployment rate nationally rose to 6.9 per cent last month, blamed in part on 36,000 jobs lost in Ontario alone.

The number of Canadians in full-time jobs also dropped, along with the number of young employed Canadians.

• Canada sheds 31,200 jobs in July, unemployment rate rises to 6.9%

• Young summer job seekers may have more employable skills than they realize

Canadian cities by unemployment rate:

• St. John's, N.L. 6.7 per cent (6.8)
• Halifax 5.4 (5.6)
• Saint John, N.B. 7.3 (7.9)
• Montreal 7.8 (7.8)
• Ottawa 6.3 (6.7)
• Toronto 6.4 (6.7)
• Sudbury, Ont. 8.1 (8.4)
• Winnipeg 6.4 (6.3)
• Regina 5.5 (5.6)
• Saskatoon 6.1 (6.6)
• Calgary 8.6 (8.3)
• Edmonton 7.7 (7.0)
• Kelowna, B.C. 7.4 (7.5)
• Abbotsford, B.C. 6.3 (6.9)
• Vancouver 5.5 (5.4)
• Victoria 4.7 (5.3)