Statistics Canada: unemployment in BC dipped in January

The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show BC is holding its own as overall unemployment in the province dipped in January to 4.5 per cent from 4.8 the month earlier.

Jobs Minister Michelle Mungall says in a statement that B-C continues to have the lowest unemployment of any province or territory and the data confirms the NDP government's approach toward building a stable economy.

The jobless rate across Canada was also down slightly to 5.5 per cent, one-tenth of a point lower than its December setting.

Number crunchers say strong performances from the manufacturing, construction and agriculture industries helped add 34-thousand-500 jobs nationwide last month, more than double the number economists had predicted.