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Whats going on at WorkBC Cowichan?

Calendar of October Workshops & events:
Oct 4-9: Essential Work Skills Training series.
Oct 6: Career Cafe is 10-11am.
Oct 12: All offices closed.
Oct 13: Career Cafe is 10-11am. Employer info session with Clements Centre is 1:30pm.
Oct 14: Resume & Cover Letter Workshop is 1-3pm.
Oct 19: Career Decision Making Workshop is 10-12pm.
Oct 20: Career Cafe is 10-11am.
Oct 22: Hidden Job Market Workshop is 1-3pm.
Oct 26: Interview Skills Workshop is 10-12pm.
Oct 27: Career Cafe is 10-11am.

Weekly Newsletter

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The Weekly

Cowichan & Ladysmith's Labour Market News

Friday, October 9, 2026

Employment Workshops & Events

A table of workshops & events: Oct 12: All offices closed. Oct 13: Career Cafe is 10-11am. Employer Info Session with Clements Centre is 1:30pm. Oct 14: Resume & Cover Letter Workshop is 1-3pm.

Thanksgiving cornucopia filled with autumn harvest foods. Text: Reminder we will be closed on Monday.

A collage of pictures of staff & clients. Text: Meet the hiring team from Clements Centre. Oct 13 from 1:30-2:30pm at WorkBC Duncan.

A smiling woman passing over her resume. Text: Resume & Cover Letter Workshop. Join us for hands-on guidance, tips on formats & styles, and the latest trends. Oct 14 from 1-3pm at WorkBC Duncan.

Photo of two WorkBC staff at a table with brochures and posters. Text: Meet the Outreach Team. Job search support & employment prep at Ladysmith Resources Centre. October 14 from 9-11am.

Email or call to register for WorkBC Workshops & Events!
centre-duncan@workbc.ca
250-748-9880

Labour Market News

Nearly 4 in 10 B.C. small businesses say they’re doing worse than last year
The 2026 Canadian Small Business Report from Vancouver-based financing company Merchant Growth found 39 per cent of B.C. respondents said their business was performing worse so far this year than during the same period in 2025. Weak customer spending was cited as a major pressure by 47 per cent of respondents, followed by inflation or rising input costs at 46 per cent and rising fuel and energy costs at 32 per cent.

Fuel tax pause offers bigger break to higher-income families
Parliamentary Budget Officer Annette Ryan said in a new report Thursday that the total tax pause will save the average family $276 over the course of the roughly one year it’s in place. But those savings increase for families in higher tax brackets. The PBO estimates that families in the highest income quintile can expect to save an average of $468, while those in the lowest quintile would see just $132 in relief.

Canada sheds 68,000 jobs in September; jobless rate climbs to 6.5%
Statistics Canada said Friday the economy lost 68,000 positions in September, coming off a loss of 42,000 roles in August. Economists had expected a gain of 9,200 jobs in the month. Statscan said job losses were nearly evenly split between full- and part-time work and were concentrated in the public sector. The unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point to 6.5 per cent last month, back to where it stood at the start of the year in January.