---
title: "BC adds 12,000 jobs in October but full-time work declines, Statistics Canada says"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-jobs-october-2026-statistics-canada"
last_updated: "2026-11-06T21:02:59.861Z"
---

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](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/261106/dq261106a-eng.htm). Business in Vancouver covers BC's labour market data regularly at [biv.com](https://biv.com/news/economy-law-politics/bc-adds-12k-jobs-in-october-full-time-work-declines-12987635).

## Sitemap

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