Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for November 2021:

“According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for November, British Columbia’s workforce remained steady with another 4,600 jobs added throughout the province as we await to see the full impacts of the extreme flooding on our economy.

“Our province has endured one challenge after another – from COVID-19, to last summer’s heat dome, wildfires and the recent devastating flooding and mudslides – but the resilience and grit of people, businesses and communities has shone through at every turn.

“I often say people are our competitive advantage – and the strength, determination and kindness shown by British Columbians over the past two years has proven it.

“By working together, B.C. continues to lead Canada’s economic recovery through the pandemic. Our unemployment rate remains one of the lowest in the country, and we continue to lead the nation with a job recovery rate of 102%. That means 55,000 more people are employed in B.C. today compared to before the pandemic. 

“B.C.’s strong recovery has been noticed across the country and internationally. Through the first nine months of 2021, about 80,000 people arrived from across Canada and around the world to make B.C. their new home – crucial for addressing the labour shortage.

“Last month, we saw gains of 12,300 jobs in private-sector employment. Sectors that saw the highest gains were manufacturing and health care, as well as professional, scientific and technical services.

“These results show that our inclusive approach to dealing with the pandemic is working. We’ve ensured our recovery is focused on supporting those who have been disproportionally affected, like youth and people of colour. Because of the direct supports we have provided, B.C.’s youth job recovery rate ranks second among provinces, and the unemployment rate for people of colour is 1.8 percentage points lower than the national average.   

“As we wrap up 2021, our government remains more committed than ever to the people of B.C. We can and we will get through this pandemic and these extreme weather events by continuing to follow provincial orders and supporting hard-hit people and businesses in our communities. 

“With the holiday season fast approaching, I’m reminded again that a healthy B.C. and a healthy economy go hand in hand. I urge everyone to get vaccinated, and support B.C. businesses by buying local.”

Learn More:

Stronger BC For Everyone: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/