Huge job losses in B.C. indicate a 'hard road ahead': finance minister

British Columbia Finance Minister Carole James says she doesn't want to sugar coat what will be a hard road ahead as labour force figures show the province lost a quarter of a million jobs in April. Combined with jobless figures in March, almost 400,000 people were unemployed.

James says nearly half of the job losses were in food services and the wholesale and retail sectors.

B.C.’s unemployment rate jumped to 11.5 per cent in April, but remains below the national rate of 13 per cent.

James says it's too early to say what impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on B.C.'s budget, but her quarterly report at the end of the summer will give more details.

She says the province has strong economic fundamentals and the government is working to build a robust rebound for B.C.