Image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

By Alyssa Conti

MARCH JOBS REPORT

Abbotsford loses jobs as first month of U.S. tariffs hit Canadian workforce: StatCan

Apr 4, 2025 | 9:45 AM

ABBOTSFORD — March labour figures from Statistics Canada are painting a clearer picture of the United States-imposed tariffs across the country.

Abbotsford lost 700 jobs, while unemployment went up from 5.5 in February to 6.1 per cent last month.

On the other hand, Chilliwack has seen unique growth over the past month, gaining 1,100 jobs and cutting down unemployment by 0.4 points to 6.6 per cent.

Across the province, unemployment went up by only one point, from 6 to 6.1 per cent. In Canada, figures also show a one-point increase to 6.7 per cent.

“All over the world, people are looking for new trading partners as the tariff threat now impacts countries around the globe,” wrote Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, in a statement released Friday. “We are working to diversify our trade to support our businesses and protect and create more jobs.”

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Local data is not available in the jobs report, but provincially, wholesale and retail trade (-8,900) and natural resources like forestry, mining, and oil and gas extraction (-4,100) saw the most losses. Health care and communications industries gained the most jobs (+6,600 each), followed by transportation and warehousing (+4,700). Agriculture also continues to rise with a 4.9 per cent increase from the previous month.

“B.C. is protecting services and defending people’s jobs and the economy. Growing a stronger and more diverse economy will help protect people in B.C. from instability outside our borders, with investments that will bring good-paying jobs to the province as part of robust and sustainable industries.”

More details are available on StatCan’s March Labour Force Survey.

Canada was largely exempt from the latest tariff orders signed by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week, though 25 per cent levies have gone ahead on auto, steel and aluminum imports.