Image: Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press

By Alyssa Conti

MAY JOBS REPORT

Abbotsford-Mission adds 1,000 jobs as unemployment climbs to 7% in May: StatCan

Jun 6, 2025 | 10:04 AM

ABBOTSFORD — Some parts of the Fraser Valley continued to mirror national labour conditions in May, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.

Despite losing 500 jobs, Chilliwack still managed to improve its local joblessness rate from 6.1 to 5.9 per cent.

Abbotsford-Mission, on the other hand, added 1000 jobs but bumped unemployment to 7 per cent– a 1.5 per cent increase from February. The area’s population and participation rate remain relatively similar, but labour force numbers have gone up, which could imply a rise in youth unemployment.

“Young people are facing yet another difficult summer student job season, depriving many of a strong start to their working lives,” wrote Conservative jobs critic Gavin Dew on the provincial labour force numbers.

Job-seekers between the ages of 15 and 24 went up by 17,700 last month in B.C., leading to an increase of 3.2 per cent in that group’s unemployment rate.

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Province leads employment increases

B.C. touts the highest employment jumps across Canada in May, with 13,000 jobs added.

The construction sector added 23,800 jobs compared to May last year, while tech services grew by 11,100 from the previous month.

Natural resources like forestry, mining and oil saw a monthly increase of 5.9 per cent, but agriculture went down by 19.9 per cent as the growing season comes to an end. Accommodations and food services (-9,000) and transportation and warehousing (-5,700)

“Now, more than ever, it’s critical for B.C. to focus on diversifying our economy and protecting jobs for British Columbians, and we are doing that work,” said Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diana Gibson in a statement released Friday.

“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 information is available on Statistics Canada’s May Labour Force Survey.