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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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May 2018

B.C. employment trends

		Jobs (% change since last month)
Total employment	Jobs (% change since last month) -0.5%	Jobs (change since last month) -12,400
Full time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) -0.8%	Jobs (change since last month) -16,000
Part time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.7%	Jobs (change since last month) +3,600

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Unemployment and participation rates

				May 2018	April 2018
Unemployment rate				May 2018 4.8%	April 2018 5.0%
Participation rate				May 2018 64.5%	April 2018 65.0%

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)+4.4%	Jobs (change since last month)+8,000
Agriculture	Jobs (% change since last month)-3.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-800
Construction	Jobs (% change since last month)-2.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-5,400
Educational Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,000
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.5%	Jobs (change since last month)-800
Health Care and Social Assistance	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-3,800
Manufacturing	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.4%	Jobs (change since last month)-700
Other Primary	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.4%	Jobs (change since last month)-700
Other Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-3.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-3,700
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-2.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-4,400
Public Administration	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,000
Transportation and Warehousing	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.4%	Jobs (change since last month)+500
Utilities	Jobs (% change since last month)-2.9%	Jobs (change since last month)-400
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-500

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Regional highlights

Unemployment rate (%)	May 2018	vs	May 2017
Cariboo	May 20185.6%	vs	May 20177.5%
Kootenay	May 20185.1%	vs	May 20177.7%
Mainland / Southwest	May 20184.4%	vs	May 20175.2%
Abbotsford	May 2018 4.6%	vs	May 2017 5.8%
Mission	May 2018 4.6%	vs	May 2017 N/A
Vancouver	May 2018 4.1%	vs	May 2017 5.3%
North Coast & Nechako	May 20188.8%	vs	May 20176.5%
Northeast	May 20187.9%	vs	May 20177.0%
Thompson-Okanagan	May 20186.8%	vs	May 20176.5%
Kelowna	May 2018 5.0%	vs	May 2017 4.5%
Vancouver Island / Coast	May 20184.9%	vs	May 20174.8%
Victoria	May 2018 3.9%	vs	May 2017 3.7%

N/A - Data not available

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