The unemployment rate in the Kootenays fell to 7.2 per cent in October, down from 8.1 per cent the previous month.
Statistics Canada says that’s on par with the national rate and a good deal lower than the previous October, when the jobless figure was 9.4 per cent.
The actual number of people employed in the region has increased over the last year from 66,500 to 73,200. Another 5,700 were looking for work last month, versus 6,900 at the same time in 2010.
The figures cover both the East and West Kootenays.
Provincially, the rate was 6.6 per cent, virtually unchanged from September.
Nationally, unemployment stood at 7.3 per cent, also very close to the previous month.