British Columbia’s strong economy kept the unemployment rate at 4.7 percent in August, near a 30-year low, according to a report Friday. Along with robust employment in the U.S. Northwest, the data suggest that Cascadia’s economy remains stronger than in either country as a whole.

Vancouver’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent and Victoria’s was 3 percent — Canada’s lowest. The national rate was 6.5 percent. Across B.C., construction and trades jobs increased in number while manufacturing and government shed jobs.

The Seattle area had an unemployment rate of 4.1 percent in July, compared to 4.8 percent nationwide. The latest Washington rates will be released this week.