B.C. sees slight job decline in October amid U.S. tariff uncertainty, says minister

British Columbia recorded a small drop in employment last month as global trade tensions and new U.S. tariffs added pressure to key sectors, according to the province’s jobs minister.

Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon said Friday that the October Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada shows a decline of about 2,900 jobs in B.C., largely due to losses in construction and forestry. He linked those decreases to “unjustified” tariffs imposed by the United States, which he said have hurt workers and businesses across the province.

Despite the monthly dip, Kahlon noted that B.C.’s employment remains stronger than a year ago, with 36,100 more people working compared to October 2024. The province has added 27,400 private-sector positions over the past year, along with gains of 17,900 construction and 13,500 manufacturing jobs.

The unemployment rate stood at 6.6 per cent in October, the fourth lowest among provinces and below the national average of 6.9 per cent.

Kahlon said the province continues to work with Ottawa to protect forestry jobs and expand export opportunities, including through the creation of a joint federal–provincial task force and new forestry trade offices in the United Kingdom. He added that the government remains focused on diversifying trade relationships and supporting economic resilience in the face of global uncertainty.