B.C. boasts it's number 1 in job creation

VICTORIA -- B.C. Jobs Minister Pat Bell says the province is leading Canada in job creation.

He says B.C. generated almost 15,000 new jobs in August, just under half the 34,000 positions created in all of Canada.

B.C.'s figures were ahead of Alberta, Quebec and Ontario as the province's unemployment rate dipped to 6.7 per cent from seven per cent in July.

Bell says B.C. has added 51,700 jobs over the last year, ranking first in Canada and showing strong and stable growth across several sectors.

Figures show a boost in part-time jobs in B.C. last month helped offset a decline in full-time positions, with most of the latest job gains in transportation, warehousing, public administration and hotel and food services.

Vancouver's unemployment figure was unchanged at 6.8 per cent in August, Victoria's jumped to 5.9 per cent from 5.6, while Kelowna's figure tumbled to 4.1 per cent from 6.1 in July.