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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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March 2019

B.C. employment trends

		Jobs (% change since last month)
Total employment	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.3%	Jobs (change since last month) +7,900
Full time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.2%	Jobs (change since last month) +3,000
Part time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.8%	Jobs (change since last month) +4,800

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Unemployment and participation rates

				March 2019	February 2019
Unemployment rate				March 2019 4.7%	February 2019 4.5%
Participation rate				March 2019 65.9%	February 2019 65.6%

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)-1,900
Agriculture	Jobs (% change since last month)+10.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,500
Construction	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.3%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,100
Educational Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-200
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing	Jobs (% change since last month)+5.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+7,700
Health Care and Social Assistance	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.9%	Jobs (change since last month)-6,000
Manufacturing	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-9,700
Other Primary	Jobs (% change since last month)-3.9%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,900
Other Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.7%	Jobs (change since last month)+800
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+3.6%	Jobs (change since last month)+7,800
Public Administration	Jobs (% change since last month)+4.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+4,500
Transportation and Warehousing	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,600
Utilities	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.8%	Jobs (change since last month)-100
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-800

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Regional highlights

Unemployment rate (%)	March 2019	vs	March 2018
Cariboo	March 20196.4%	vs	March 20186.6%
Kootenay	March 20194.7%	vs	March 20186.3%
Mainland / Southwest	March 20194.9%	vs	March 20184.3%
Abbotsford	March 2019 5.4%	vs	March 2018 4.0%
Mission	March 2019 5.4%	vs	March 2018 4.0%
Vancouver	March 2019 4.8%	vs	March 2018 4.0%
North Coast & Nechako	March 20193.8%	vs	March 20187.6%
Northeast	March 20197.8%	vs	March 20185.7%
Thompson-Okanagan	March 20195.3%	vs	March 20187.4%
Kelowna	March 2019 3.9%	vs	March 2018 5.2%
Vancouver Island / Coast	March 20193.6%	vs	March 20185.6%
Victoria	March 2019 3.0%	vs	March 2018 4.5%

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