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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 2019

B.C. employment trends

		Jobs (% change since last month)
Total employment	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.7%	Jobs (change since last month) +16,800
Full time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.6%	Jobs (change since last month) +12,400
Part time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.8%	Jobs (change since last month) +4,400

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Unemployment and participation rates

				May 2019	April 2019
Unemployment rate				May 2019 4.3%	April 2019 4.6%
Participation rate				May 2019 66.0%	April 2019 65.8%

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)-4.5%	Jobs (change since last month)-8,700
Agriculture	Jobs (% change since last month)+11.5%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,000
Construction	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.1%	Jobs (change since last month)+300
Educational Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+2.3%	Jobs (change since last month)+4,000
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.0%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,600
Health Care and Social Assistance	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.7%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,300
Manufacturing	Jobs (% change since last month)+4.8%	Jobs (change since last month)+8,100
Other Primary	Jobs (% change since last month)-5.1%	Jobs (change since last month)-2,500
Other Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-300
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-2,700
Public Administration	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+200
Transportation and Warehousing	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.8%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,500
Utilities	Jobs (% change since last month)+14.2%	Jobs (change since last month)+1,700
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Jobs (% change since last month)+2.5%	Jobs (change since last month)+9,500

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Regional highlights

Unemployment rate (%)	May 2019	vs	May 2018
Cariboo	May 20195.5%	vs	May 20185.6%
Kootenay	May 20196.3%	vs	May 20185.1%
Mainland / Southwest	May 20194.3%	vs	May 20184.4%
Abbotsford	May 2019 5.6%	vs	May 2018 4.6%
Mission	May 2019 5.6%	vs	May 2018 4.6%
Vancouver	May 2019 4.2%	vs	May 2018 4.1%
North Coast & Nechako	May 20193.7%	vs	May 20188.8%
Northeast	May 20198.3%	vs	May 20187.9%
Thompson-Okanagan	May 20195.4%	vs	May 20186.8%
Kelowna	May 2019 4.2%	vs	May 2018 5.0%
Vancouver Island / Coast	May 20194.0%	vs	May 20184.9%
Victoria	May 2019 3.6%	vs	May 2018 3.9%

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