Northeast British Columbia’s labour market is showing signs of improvement, with unemployment falling and a larger share of residents employed compared with the same time last year.
Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey data shows the region’s unemployment rate reached six per cent in September 2026, down from seven per cent in September 2025.
The employment rate also edged higher, rising to 64.8 per cent from 64.1 per cent a year earlier.
That puts Northeast B.C. ahead of the provincial employment rate of 60.9 per cent, with the region continuing to have one of the highest proportions of residents working in the province.
The unemployment rate is based on a three-month moving average ending in September, rather than figures from a single month.
Across B.C., employment trends varied by region.
The Lower Mainland-Southwest recorded an unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent, up from 6.7 per cent a year earlier, while the Thompson-Okanagan rate climbed to seven per cent from six per cent.
The Cariboo region’s rate edged up to 5.8 per cent from 5.6 per cent, and the Kootenay region increased to 6.7 per cent from 6.5 per cent.
Other parts of the province saw unemployment decline. Vancouver Island and the Coast recorded a rate of 6.4 per cent, down from 7.2 per cent, while the North Coast and Nechako region dropped to 6.3 per cent from 8.9 per cent.
Northeast B.C.’s labour market is closely tied to industries such as energy, resource development and other industrial activity, which contribute to employment opportunities across the region.
The latest figures suggest the region is heading into the final months of 2026 with a lower unemployment rate and a slightly higher employment rate than it had a year ago.
