Latest unemployment numbers show more people are working now in the province than before the pandemic hit: Ravi Kahlon

The jobless rate across Canada dipped sharply in March to 7.5 per cent, its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the numbers in British Columbia didn't budge.

Statistics Canada says more than 300,000 jobs were added countrywide last month, pushing the unemployment rate down from 8.2 per cent in February.

BC's Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation says the latest unemployment numbers show more people are working now in the province than before the pandemic hit.

Ravi Kahlon says, counting the 35,000 jobs created in BC last month, the province now has 11 consecutive months of job gains and the highest job-recovery rate in Canada.

But he says the hospitality, fitness and tourism sectors are among those still struggling.

Kahlon predicts recently imposed restrictions, part of B-C's "circuit breaker" to slow the spread of COVID-19, will mean higher jobless numbers in next month's report.