British Columbia’s latest Labour Force Survey confirms a troubling pattern under the NDP: job losses, weakening private-sector momentum, and a growing reliance on government employment instead of a healthy, opportunity-driven economy.

December saw 3,300 jobs lost in B.C., continuing a trend of economic softness that the government is trying to spin away. While public administration employment continues to grow, natural resource jobs are declining, and youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, signalling deep structural problems the NDP has failed to address.

Gavin Dew, Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, Innovation & AI, said:

“It’s concerning to see government jobs keep growing while the private-sector jobs that pay for them aren’t keeping up, especially in the resource sector. Compared to other provinces, B.C. is seeing more growth in government-supported employment than in the industries that actually drive investment, productivity, and exports. I’m particularly concerned about stubbornly high youth unemployment that is depriving our children and grandchildren of the opportunity to build their lives here.”

Peter Milobar, Critic for Finance, said:

“After nine years of NDP intervention in the economy, British Columbia is drifting away from the basics that actually create jobs: certainty, competitiveness, and private-sector confidence. Government is not a job creator, it’s an opportunity creator. Right now, the NDP is squandering that opportunity through economic mismanagement that favours bureaucracy and political deal-making over real investment and long-term growth. British Columbians are being told everything is fine, but the numbers show an economy leaning more on government payrolls while private-sector and resource jobs fall behind.

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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948