The B.C. government is trying to put the best possible spin on the latest figures showing an increase in the province's jobless rate, saying despite losses in some areas, there were gains in others.
Statistics Canada says unemployment in B.C. inched up a tenth of a point to 6.8 per cent in November compared to October.
Jobs Minister Pat Bell says the province lost about 4,700 jobs, all of them in the part-time sector, while the number of full time jobs remained stable.
He says there were also gains in other areas including scientific and technical services, forestry, fishing, mining, information and recreation.
Bell says we are living in challenging economic times, but the government's jobs plan will help create long term jobs through spending on roads, rail and ports and by continuing to attract foreign investors to the province.
Among major cities in B.C., Vancouver's jobless rate remained steady at 7.2 per cent in November, Victoria's fell to 5.4 per cent from 5.6, while Kelowna's jumped to 7.8 per cent from six per cent in October.
