AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 10, 2026
B.C. Reports Significant Job Losses in September 2026
British Columbia lost 20,000 jobs in September 2026, marking the province's first monthly decline in employment since March. According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, these losses constitute nearly a third of the 68,000 jobs shed across Canada during the month.
Construction and Manufacturing Sectors Lead the Decline
The construction sector experienced the largest decline with 9,800 jobs lost, followed closely by manufacturing which saw a reduction of 8,100 jobs. The health care and social assistance sector also faced significant losses, shedding 6,800 jobs.
Other sectors affected included educational services, accommodation and food services, public administration, professional, scientific and technical services, utilities, and transportation and warehousing.
B.C. Unemployment Rate Sees Slight Decrease Amid Slow Economy
Despite the job losses, the bc unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points, sitting at 6.4% for the month. Bryan Yu, chief economist at Central 1 Economics, described the numbers as indicative of a "soft economic environment" for the province, highlighting recent trade risks and a slow housing market as contributing factors.
Yu pointed to the U.S.-Canadian trade war as having an impact on manufacturing job losses, while weakness in the housing market has reduced demand in construction. He added, "I don’t think there’s any magic bullet right now in terms of turning around this economy."
Job Gains in Select Sectors
Although many sectors saw losses, the business, building, and other support services category gained 7,300 jobs. Additionally, the information, culture, and recreation sector added another 4,500 jobs.
Yu noted that the loss in accommodation and food services may be linked to the wind-down from a summer hiring boost for the World Cup games held in Vancouver.
Political Leaders Address Employment Concerns
On the campaign trail, NDP Leader David Eby emphasized the need to support youth employment in B.C., proposing a tax credit for small and medium-sized businesses that hire young workers. "The urgency of getting young people into the workforce to give them experience, training, and opportunities is paramount," Eby stated during a news conference in Burnaby.
Conservative Party Leader Lorne Doerksen referred to the Statistics Canada data as "bad news" and announced a similar tax credit designed to reward businesses that hire young British Columbians for their first jobs. Doerksen said, "We have a plan to supercharge the economy in British Columbia, to create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets."
Outlook for B.C.’s Job Market
Looking ahead, Bryan Yu expressed hope that job creation in B.C. could be supported by LNG Canada’s announcement to move forward with its expansion project in Kitimat. This major project is expected to result in more lng canada jobs for the region.
However, Yu cautioned that challenges remain in the business environment, with factors such as trade risks and sluggish sectors continuing to weigh on the bc economy 2026.
Source: cbc.ca.
