Summary

• B.C.’s construction and manufacturing sector show two straight months of job creation
• B.C.’s April unemployment rate is lower than the national average
• B.C. had the highest gain in youth employment in April, up 4,000 jobs
• The province continues to lead Canada’s economic growth, with the highest wages in the country

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Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, has released the following statement about the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for April 2026:

“As the war in Iran and tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump continue to impact people, businesses and economies around the world, British Columbia is staying strong in the face of uncertainty.

“Investors are continuing to show confidence in our economy, with $88 billion worth of proposed major projects moving forward, estimated to create tens of thousands of new jobs over the next three years.

“Earlier this month, StatsCan confirmed what we already know: B.C. is an economic leader in Canada, and it is outperforming projections. We have had the fastest GDP growth of all large provinces since 2017, and the second fastest of all large provinces in 2025, ahead of Ontario and Quebec.

“While many provinces lost jobs last month, today’s Labour Force Survey data shows that British Columbia’s construction and manufacturing sectors continue to grow, with nearly 12,000 jobs added in the past two months.

“This is a positive trend and reflects the work underway to build the major projects and infrastructure we need to grow our economy.

“April also saw an increase of 10,300 in self-employment, which demonstrates people’s confidence in starting their own businesses.

“B.C.’s unemployment rate is 6.8%, which is below the national average. While still a concern, B.C.’s youth unemployment rate improved to 14.4% in April from 15.6% in March, in line with the national average, and below Ontario and Alberta. 

“B.C. had the highest gains in youth employment in Canada in April, up 4,000 jobs.

“B.C. continues to lead the country with an average hourly wage of $39.19, the highest among provinces, up 2.5% compared to this time last year.

“When it comes to our economy, people and businesses in B.C. have a lot to look forward to, with 35 proposed major projects moving forward, and major international events coming soon.

“This includes Web Summit Vancouver, which begins on Monday, and will connect companies with more than 680 investors, 1,100 startups from 64 countries, and global decision-makers, providing unmatched access to scalable technologies, emerging innovations, and strategic partnerships within a globally recognized ecosystem.

“And it includes FIFA World Cup 2026, which will put a global spotlight on the province as a prime destination for tourism, trade, and investment, helping to build an independent economy that works better for people. It is expected to attract more than 350,000 soccer fans to BC Place during the tournament and generate more than $1 billion in visitor spending for B.C.’s economy, from 2026 through 2031.

“As part of our Look West strategy, we will continue working every day to support a growing economy that creates good jobs and opportunities for people and businesses throughout B.C.”

Learn More:

• To learn more about B.C.’s response to tariffs, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/tariffs
• To learn more about Look West: Jobs and Prosperity for a Stronger BC and Canada, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/LookWest