 |
|
|
VICTORIA – The June 2004 labour force survey, coupled with continued good news on the housing starts front, reinforces the fact that B.C.’s economy is on the rebound, said Skills Development and Labour Minister Graham Bruce today.
“Last month more than 35,000 full-time jobs were created, bringing the total to 167,800 new jobs since Dec. 2001,” said Bruce. “The June 2004 employment level of almost 2.1 million marks the 17th consecutive month where B.C.’s workforce has topped two million.”
Taking into account a decline of 7,900 part-time jobs, B.C.’s net total of 27,200 new jobs remains the highest in Canada. The job gains were primarily in construction, information, culture and recreation as well as food and accommodation, and virtually all of it was outside the metropolitan Vancouver area. “The data from Stats Canada supports the anecdotal feedback we’re hearing that tourism is making a comeback in B.C.,” said Bruce. “In the tourism sector there were 13,100 more jobs in June than in May, and in the resource sector, which includes forestry, we saw 2,200 more jobs in June than one month earlier.”
The youth component is also showing renewed growth. A total of 304,600 people between the ages of 15 and 24 were working this June, vs. 285,500 a year ago. The proportion of youth working or looking for work this month is 64.2 per cent, a jump of more than 4 per cent from 59.9 per cent in June, 2003. Bruce said, “The numbers show more young people are finding work and, in turn, more young people are being drawn into the labour force to look for jobs.”
Housing starts in the province continue to produce good results. Vancouver leads Canada in housing starts with a 42 per cent increase over June 2003. Jan. to June this year saw a 46.5 per cent growth over the first six months one year ago. On Vancouver Island, homebuilding is 40 per cent ahead of the 2003 Jan. – June totals.
“These numbers are good, and show a positive trend in economic growth across B.C.,” said Bruce. “It’s important that we, as government, continue to look for new ways of stimulating the economy because a strong, vibrant economy is the foundation for strengthening communities and families. -30-
| ||||||||||||
