BC adds 12,000 jobs in October but full-time work declines, Statistics Canada says
BC employment rose 12,000 in October 2026 as part-time work jumped 13,900 and full-time work fell 1,700, with the unemployment rate holding at 6.3 per cent, Statistics Canada reported November 6.
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British Columbia added 12,000 jobs in October 2026, recovering part of the 20,000 jobs lost in September, Statistics Canada reported on November 6. All of the gains were in part-time work: part-time employment rose 13,900 while full-time employment fell 1,700, Business in Vancouver reported.
Part-time gains, full-time losses
The October recovery was not uniform across employment types. Business in Vancouver reported that part-time employment drove the entire gain, rising 13,900 in BC. Full-time employment fell 1,700 jobs in the same period. Despite the monthly improvement, Statistics Canada and Business in Vancouver reported that BC employment remains 7,900 jobs below its August 2026 level.
BC's unemployment rate held at 6.3 per cent in October, little changed from September and little changed from a year earlier, Statistics Canada said. The national unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.7 per cent in October, as Canada lost 4,700 jobs overall.
Sector winners and losers in BC
Business in Vancouver reported that BC's biggest losses in October came from the tech sector, which shed 3,900 jobs, and from transportation and warehousing, which lost 2,700 jobs.
The biggest gains were in information, culture and recreation, which added 7,600 jobs. Business in Vancouver noted this sector is most often linked to BC's film and television industry. Wholesale and retail trade added 6,400 jobs.
US tariffs and the broader outlook
RBC senior economist Claire Fan told The Canadian Press, as reported by Business in Vancouver, that US tariffs put in place since August 22 have not yet caused widespread layoffs in Canada. Fan said the tariffs are severe but affect a narrow set of sectors. "Manufacturing jobs changed little in August and September. Sectors disproportionately affected by U.S. tariffs including auto and steel manufacturers can continue to look to increasing government support," Fan said.
Statistics Canada's October 2026 Labour Force Survey is at www150.statcan.gc.ca. Business in Vancouver covers BC's labour market data regularly at biv.com.
Questions this story answers
How many jobs did BC add in October 2026?
Statistics Canada released its October 2026 Labour Force Survey on November 6 and reported that employment in British Columbia increased by 12,000 jobs, or 0.4 per cent, in October. That follows a loss of 20,000 jobs in September 2026. Despite the October gain, BC employment remains 7,900 jobs below its August 2026 level, according to Business in Vancouver.
Were October 2026 job gains in BC full-time or part-time work?
All of October's gains in BC were in part-time employment, which rose by 13,900 jobs, Business in Vancouver reported on November 6. Full-time employment in BC fell by 1,700 jobs in the same month. The figures may not add up exactly due to Statistics Canada's own rounding in its calculations.
What is BC's unemployment rate in October 2026?
Statistics Canada reported that BC's unemployment rate was 6.3 per cent in October 2026, little changed from September and little changed compared with a year earlier. That compares with a national unemployment rate of 6.7 per cent in October, which rose 0.2 percentage points from September.
Which sectors lost jobs in BC in October 2026?
Business in Vancouver reported on November 6 that BC's biggest job losses in October were in the tech sector, which shed 3,900 jobs, and in transportation and warehousing, which lost 2,700 jobs. Business in Vancouver said Statistics Canada provided the BC sector figures.
Which sectors gained jobs in BC in October 2026?
Business in Vancouver reported that the biggest gains in BC in October were in information, culture and recreation, which added 7,600 jobs. Business in Vancouver noted this category is most closely linked to BC's film and television sector. Wholesale and retail trade added 6,400 BC jobs.
How did BC compare with Canada overall in October 2026?
Statistics Canada reported that Canada lost 4,700 jobs overall in October 2026, with the national unemployment rate rising 0.2 percentage points to 6.7 per cent. BC's gain of 12,000 jobs ran counter to the national trend. Alberta lost 24,000 jobs in October.
What did RBC's economist say about the effect of US tariffs on the labour market?
RBC senior economist Claire Fan told The Canadian Press, as reported by Business in Vancouver on November 6, that US tariffs implemented since August 22, 2026 have not yet led to widespread layoffs in Canada. She said tariffs are severe but of a narrow scope and that sectors such as auto and steel manufacturers can look to increased government support as they adjust to reduced US demand.
What is the broader trend in BC employment in 2026?
Statistics Canada's October release shows that after a gain in October, BC employment remains 7,900 jobs below its August 2026 level. BC shed 20,000 jobs in September and 5,500 in August, according to Business in Vancouver's earlier reporting. The October recovery covered about 60 per cent of September's loss.
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