The local jobless rate was lower last month than the provincial and national rates and lower than the same time last year.
Statistics Canada says the rate in the Kootenays in May was 5.2 per cent, compared to 6.7 per cent in May 2025.
The population was estimated at 151,000, with 86,100 people working and 4,700 people looking for work. A year ago, the population was 149,900, 84,300 had jobs, and 6,100 were trying to find jobs.
The national rate last month was 6.6 per cent and the BC rate was 6.8 per cent.
Across the country employment increased in construction; information, culture, and recreation; transportation and warehousing; and accommodation and food services. It decreased in wholesale and retail trade.
Employment rose in BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, while it fell in Saskatchewan.
In actual bodies, employment gains were seen among men and women ages 25 to 54 and youth ages 15 to 24. However, the unemployment rate for those categories declined.
StatsCan says the average hourly wage increased three per cent year-over-year to $37.24 an hour.
