Okanagan Employment Trends
The unemployment rate in Kelowna was 6.3% as of February 2026, down 0.5% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 4.1% below the peak from November 2025 but remains above the long-run average.
There were 2,000 fewer full-time jobs in February 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a loss of 1,300 part-time positions, this led to a decrease of 3,300 total jobs in February.
Full-time employment was down 8,500 jobs from the peak in October 2025.
* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.
