British Columbia lost 20,200 jobs in February, down 0.7 per cent, according to the latest Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada.
B.C.’s unemployment rate was unchanged from the previous month at 6.1 per cent as the number of people looking for work held steady.
Across Canada, employment declined by 0.4 per cent in February while the unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 6.7 per cent
B.C. shed a total of 10,500 construction and manufacturing jobs last month. The province also saw 11,000 job losses in the services-producing sector, including 5,400 in the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing sector. The health care and social assistance sector was down 4,900 jobs while the information, culture and recreation sector lost 4,500 positions.
Job gains were focused in accommodation and food services, professional, scientific and technical services, wholesale and retail trade, and agriculture.
The province lost a total of 32,500 full-time positions, and gained 12,300 part-time jobs.
B.C.’s population declined by 2,300 from January to February.
“Economic instability caused by U.S. President Donald Trump continues to impact economies around the world,” said B.C.’s Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, Ravi Kahlon in a statement Friday.
“While overall numbers show a loss of 20,200 jobs this month in BC, significant job losses were felt across Canada and the U.S. in February,” he said.
Kahlon noted B.C.’s unemployment rate remains the fourth lowest in Canada.
He said B.C. has gained 6,500 private sector jobs and 10,400 construction jobs since February 2025.
B.C. Conservative jobs critic Gavin Dew said in a statement the numbers show B.C.’s youth unemployment rate remains “stubbornly high,” at 12 per cent.
The StatCan report shows the unemployment for youth aged 15 to 24 was down 1.7 per cent from January, and down 3.9 per cent compared to a year ago.
He said job losses in manufacturing, the resource sector, transportation logistics, and trade signal broader weakness in B.C.’s industrial base.
“The continued imbalance between public sector and private sector job growth is concerning,” said Dew. “We need public sector discipline and massive private sector growth to reset the fiscal balance, and that’s not happening under this government.”
