Above are the unemployment statistics for the Cariboo over the past 15 months. Currently, the Cariboo has the second highest unemployment rate in the province, second only to the North Coast-Nechako which has unemployment at 11.1%.Is unemployment in the Cariboo currently 10% as suggested by these data above from BC Stats? No, not really. These numbers, while indicated for specific months, are actually averages of the previous three months. Statistians use three month averages to smooth out their data--everyone wants a smooth graph right? Graphs that show gradual transitions make politicians less likely to hyperventilate and the public to panic.
Unfortunately, occasionally this does not reflect the situation in the real world. This is one such occasion.
Data Source: Labour Force Statistics: BC Stats. Plotted by me.
