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Labour market snapshots

The monthly Labour Market Snapshot offers a quick overview of B.C.'s labour market. You'll find industry and regional highlights, as well as information on provincial employment, unemployment and participation rates.

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January 2020

B.C. employment trends

		Jobs (% change since last month)
Total employment	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.1%	Jobs (change since last month) +3,400
Full time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) -0.3%	Jobs (change since last month) -6,100
Part time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +1.7%	Jobs (change since last month) +9,500

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Unemployment and participation rates

				January 2020	December 2019
Unemployment rate				January 2020 4.5%	December 2019 4.8%
Participation rate				January 2020 64.4%	December 2019 64.6%

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Industry highlights

	Jobs (% change since last month)	Jobs (change since last month)
Accommodation and Food Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-2,000
Agriculture	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.1%	Jobs (change since last month)+300
Construction	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-2,400
Educational Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,800
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)+1,700
Health Care and Social Assistance	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-700
Manufacturing	Jobs (% change since last month)+3.0%	Jobs (change since last month)+4,800
Other Primary	Jobs (% change since last month)-2.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-900
Other Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+2.7%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,100
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.8%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,700
Public Administration	Jobs (% change since last month)-3.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-3,600
Transportation and Warehousing	Jobs (% change since last month)+2.0%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,800
Utilities	Jobs (% change since last month)+3.4%	Jobs (change since last month)+400
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.3%	Jobs (change since last month)+5,200

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Regional highlights

Unemployment rate (%)	January 2020	vs	January 2019
Cariboo	January 20207.5%	vs	January 2019N/A
Kootenay	January 20204.4%	vs	January 2019N/A
Mainland / Southwest	January 20204.4%	vs	January 2019N/A
Abbotsford	January 2020 5.0%	vs	January 2019 N/A
Mission	January 2020 5.0%	vs	January 2019 N/A
Vancouver	January 2020 4.5%	vs	January 2019 N/A
North Coast & Nechako	January 20203.5%	vs	January 2019N/A
Northeast	January 20204.2%	vs	January 2019N/A
Thompson-Okanagan	January 20205.5%	vs	January 2019N/A
Kelowna	January 2020 4.2%	vs	January 2019 N/A
Vancouver Island / Coast	January 20205.1%	vs	January 2019N/A
Victoria	January 2020 3.5%	vs	January 2019 N/A

N/A - Data not available

Source: Monthly Labour Force Survey, 3-month moving average, seasonally unadjusted