File image of agriculture in Fraser Valley. (Image Credit: Modfos / Dreamstime)

By Alyssa Conti

February Jobs Report

Unemployment rate holds steady in B.C., Fraser Valley in February: StatCan

Mar 13, 2026 | 8:58 AM

CHILLIWACK — B.C. may have suffered some job losses in February, but the unemployment rate remains either unmoved – or improved – in the Fraser Valley, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.

Abbotsford-Mission added 2,100 jobs and decreased its unemployment rate from 6.3 per cent in January to 5.7 per cent last month, down by only 0.1 points from February last year.

Chilliwack lost 1,300 jobs, but maintained its monthly joblessness rate of 7.2 per cent from January – up by 0.4 points from last February.

British Columbia also held seasonally steady at 6.1 per cent (+0.1 YOY) despite losing roughly 20,200 jobs, which StatCan says is due to the consistent number of people searching for work.

Seasonal changes across B.C.

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Natural resources (-18.8%) and agriculture (+93.5%) continue to dominate year-over-year employment rates across the province.

Jobs primarily affected by monthly changes include those in finance and real estate (-5,400) and construction (-6,900), the latter of which is still up by 4.1 per cent annually after B.C. launched several major projects on schools, hospitals and transportation infrastructure in the past year.

Accommodation and food services are up by 7,200 jobs in February, or 2.9 per cent year-over-year, as the industry gears up for spring tourism.

“Economic instability caused by U.S. President Donald Trump continues to impact economies around the world,” said Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon. “We are leveraging B.C.’s strengths and our work to be the economic engine of Canada, build nation-building major projects, create good jobs and skills training opportunities for people, and grow key sectors that are driving economic growth into the future.”

More information is available on Statistics Canada’s February Labour Force Survey.