Back

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.

Select snapshot month

July 2018

B.C. employment trends

		Jobs (% change since last month)
Total employment	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.5%	Jobs (change since last month) +11,200
Full time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.5%	Jobs (change since last month) +9,600
Part time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.3%	Jobs (change since last month) +1,600

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Unemployment and participation rates

				July 2018	June 2018
Unemployment rate				July 2018 5.0%	June 2018 5.2%
Participation rate				July 2018 64.5%	June 2018 64.5%

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)-0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-3,600
Agriculture	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-200
Construction	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.0%	Jobs (change since last month)+500
Educational Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,900
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.3%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,900
Health Care and Social Assistance	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,700
Manufacturing	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-3,000
Other Primary	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-500
Other Services	Jobs (% change since last month)0.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-200
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,300
Public Administration	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+1,600
Transportation and Warehousing	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.5%	Jobs (change since last month)-6,600
Utilities	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,500
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,500

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Regional highlights

Unemployment rate (%)	July 2018	vs	July 2017
Cariboo	July 20185.3%	vs	July 20176.6%
Kootenay	July 20186.0%	vs	July 20177.5%
Mainland / Southwest	July 20184.5%	vs	July 20175.1%
Abbotsford	July 2018 4.8%	vs	July 2017 5.4%
Mission	July 2018 4.8%	vs	July 2017 N/A
Vancouver	July 2018 4.4%	vs	July 2017 5.2%
North Coast & Nechako	July 20185.8%	vs	July 20175.5%
Northeast	July 20187.4%	vs	July 20176.6%
Thompson-Okanagan	July 20186.0%	vs	July 20175.6%
Kelowna	July 2018 5.7%	vs	July 2017 3.0%
Vancouver Island / Coast	July 20184.6%	vs	July 20174.6%
Victoria	July 2018 4.2%	vs	July 2017 4.4%

N/A - Data not available

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