Prince George, B.C.- The unemployment rate in Prince George last month was  6.8%, up from the 6.1% recorded in the same month a year ago.     Vince Ferreo of Stats Canada says the increase is a reflection of a larger eligible workforce  as more people were actually working last month (49,500 employed ) than had been in May of 2011 when 47,900 had jobs.

 

The same scenario was played out in the Cariboo, where the unemployment rate last month was 7.9% , up from 7.2% in May of 2011. But again, more people (4200) were working last month than in May of 2011, but the labour force grew by 5,400 to offset those employment gains..

 

Provincially, the rate slipped slightly. It is now 7.4% down from 7.5% recorded in May of 2011.

 

Nationally, the rate is 7.3%, down from the 7.4% recorded in the same month a year ago.