Image: Canadian Press

By Alyssa Conti

SEPTEMBER JOBS REPORT

Unemployment still rises in Chilliwack, Abbotsford in September: StatCan

Oct 10, 2025 | 9:01 AM

CHILLIWACK — Despite the addition of nearly 8,000 jobs across B.C., Statistics Canada’s latest jobs report shows unemployment continues to rise across the province, including cities in the Fraser Valley.

Although Chilliwack added 600 jobs between August and September, the city still saw unemployment rise from 6.1 to 6.4 per cent.

Abbotsford-Mission lost 300 jobs, and unemployment increased from 6.8 to 7.2 per cent.

British Columbia’s joblessness rose from 6.2 to 6.4 per cent, matching this year’s highest rate in May.

“This is a government that can’t grow jobs, can’t attract investment, and can’t give young people a reason to stay,” said Conservative Jobs Critic Gavin Dew. “We’ve got 70,000 people leaving the province last year, youth unemployment skyrocketing, and small businesses barely hanging on.

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Jobs for B.C. youth aged 15 to 24 years old dropped by roughly 3,100 year-over-year in September. The unemployment rate for that age group rose by two per cent in the same time period as the school season started.

Continued decline in the natural resources sector

Not counting education (+10.7K jobs), accommodation and food services saw the highest number of positions added at 12,200, while the agriculture industry rose by 15.7 per cent annually.

Wholesale retail trade (-16.7K) lost the most jobs last month, while utilities (-28.6%) saw the largest decrease year-over-year.

Natural resources (-20.6%) also faced significant annual losses, continuing a downward trend from the August jobs survey.

“B.C. and Canada are facing serious challenges in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s attacks on our economy and sovereignty,” said Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon.

“Tariffs and economic uncertainty are large challenges for certain sectors and regions throughout the province. Despite these challenges, B.C. leads Canada in private-sector job growth and is holding steady working to build an economy that can stand on its own two feet.”

Local data is not available in the jobs report.

More information is available on StatCan’s September Labour Force Survey.