Kelowna Adds 2,300 Jobs but Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.2 Per Cent

Kelowna's unemployment rate rose to 9.2 per cent in June 2026 from 9.0 per cent in May even as the census metropolitan area added about 2,300 jobs, Cbc reported. Roughly 2,900 more people entered the labour market during the month, pushing the rate higher and leaving Kelowna with the highest unemployment among Canada's major urban centres.

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce linked the increase to population growth outpacing job creation.

Interim CEO Ester Pike said several factors contributed, including reduced construction activity, program cuts at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Okanagan College, and financial pressures on small businesses that make up about 85 per cent of chamber membership.

"We're seeing more people looking for work than there are available jobs," Pike said. " British Columbia's unemployment rate fell to 6.8 per cent in May.

Vancouver's rate eased to 6.6 per cent from 6.7 per cent, while Nanaimo recorded the largest provincial improvement, dropping to 7.4 per cent from 8.5 per cent. Kamloops lost about 400 jobs and its rate rose to 6.5 per cent from 5.9 per cent. Chilliwack's rate increased to 8.0 per cent from 7.7 per cent, Abbotsford-Mission's rose to 8.3 per cent from 7.8 per cent, and Victoria's edged up to 4.4 per cent from 4.1 per cent.

7 percentage points to 12.7 per cent. The rate for students returning to school in fall 2026 fell to 15.3 per cent, down 2.1 points from June 2025. B.C.

Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon said the province recorded Canada's largest increase in youth employment last month and that two-thirds of new positions were full-time. He added that B.C. created 33,000 jobs in the two months ending June and maintained the country's highest average hourly wage at $38.63.