British Columbia added 6,200 jobs in November and saw its unemployment rate dip slightly, but the political and regional divide over the province’s economic trajectory is widening — especially in the Interior, where uncertainty in forestry and rising joblessness are sharpening concerns heading into 2026.

The latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey triggered sharply contrasting reactions Friday, with the provincial government touting steady growth and the Official Opposition warning of an “opportunity recession” marked by rising insecurity for families, women, and young workers.

At the same time, new comments from Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon reveal a province navigating mixed economic signals: stable overall numbers but deepening anxiety in resource communities.

Government Emphasizes Resilience, Points to Signs of Growth in the Interior

Kahlon said the dip in unemployment from 6.6% in October to 6.4% in November shows B.C.’s economy remains “resilient in the face of global uncertainty.”

“Many provinces saw big declines in employment over the last year, but B.C. has been pretty consistent every single month,” he told Radio NL. “Despite the challenges we’re seeing with tariffs, with forestry, the numbers overall continue to hold steady, and it actually sets us up really well for 2026.”

Kahlon acknowledged the difficulty of balancing a generally positive employment report with the immediate pain of mill closures, including Domtar’s permanent shutdown in Crofton, which will affect about 350 workers.

“It’s tough when you have a report that shows that employment numbers are steady, and at the same time people just got notified they don’t have a job,” he said. “This is not just B.C. — we’re seeing it across the country… It’s a bit of a perfect storm.”

Still, he highlighted areas of momentum, including youth employment and sector gains in manufacturing, construction, and professional, scientific and technical services.

Kamloops and the Interior: “A centre of economic activity for the region”

Speaking specifically about Kamloops and the Interior, Kahlon struck an optimistic tone.

“Kamloops has seen about 2,000 new jobs year over year. It’s fourth amongst all the regions in the province,” he said. “I do see a lot of hope in Kamloops. It’s a centre of economic activity for the region.”

He pointed to aerospace as a key growth sector, noting a cluster of companies exploring expansions in and around Kamloops. He also said the province will put “a lot of focus” on Kamloops, Kelowna and Prince George in 2026 as part of its Look West economic plan, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on the U.S. market.

“There’s lots of opportunity—not only in Kamloops, but in the region,” he said.

Opposition Warns Interior Job Losses Signal an ‘Opportunity Recession’

Conservative MLA for Kelowna–Mission, Gavin Dew, offered a far bleaker interpretation of the latest data, arguing that high unemployment for women and youth, combined with Interior job losses, paint a picture of families losing ground.

“British Columbians are not breathing any easier,” Dew said. “We are living through an opportunity recession: more anxiety, less opportunity.”

He pointed to youth unemployment at 12.5% provincewide, and said women are “being hit harder at every age,” with 14.2% unemployment for women aged 15–24 and rising joblessness for women in their core working years.

“These are the people who keep households running,” Dew said. “When they are falling behind, that is not a comeback.”

Kelowna, he warned, is facing a worsening local job crunch. Unemployment there climbed to 11% in November, representing 16,200 people out of work — up from 13,800 the month before.

“This is a tale of two economies,” Dew said. “Victoria gets fat with government jobs while the rest of B.C. gets lean.”

He also highlighted growing pain in the resource economy, noting Domtar’s closure and the newly announced three-week shutdown at Brink Forest Products affecting 75 workers in Prince George, Vanderhoof and Houston.

“All families want for Christmas is a government that stops managing decline and starts delivering stability, opportunity, and common sense,” he said.

Public vs. Private Sector: A Growing Political Battle Line

Dew criticized what he called the NDP’s “government-fat” approach to job growth, while Kahlon pushed back, saying the opposition is dismissing essential jobs in health care and education.

“I hear the opposition critique public sector jobs like hiring teachers and hiring nurses is somehow a bad thing for the economy. It’s not,” Kahlon said. “We’ve got over 17,000 new private-sector jobs — the third highest in the country.”

He acknowledged that global uncertainty is affecting private-sector hiring everywhere in Canada, but said B.C. remains comparatively strong.

Trade Uncertainty and 2026 Outlook

Kahlon said securing a new Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement is critical for stabilizing markets and giving industry clarity.

“If they’re going to increase tariffs, so be it — we just need to know what the number is,” he said. “Certainty is the big thing we’re looking for.”

Looking ahead, he said expansion opportunities in mining, natural gas and aerospace — particularly in the Interior — give him confidence heading into the new year.

A Province Divided, but With Key Battlegrounds in the Interior

The November numbers paint a picture of an economy performing solidly on paper but unevenly across regions and demographics.

Kamloops appears to be a bright spot, with year-over-year job gains and potential aerospace growth. But in nearby Kelowna and across forestry-dependent communities, the job losses and plant closures are sharp reminders of an economy in transition.

With 2026 shaping up to be a pivotal year — economically and politically — the Interior is emerging as a key region where the government’s optimism and the Opposition’s warnings will collide most directly.