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

April 2018

B.C. employment trends

		Jobs (% change since last month)
Total employment	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.1%	Jobs (change since last month) +2,900
Full time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) +0.9%	Jobs (change since last month) +18,200
Part time positions	Jobs (% change since last month) -2.8%	Jobs (change since last month) +15,300

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Unemployment and participation rates

				April 2018	March 2018
Unemployment rate				April 2018 5.0%	March 2018 4.7%
Participation rate				April 2018 65.0%	March 2018 64.9%

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)+2.9%	Jobs (change since last month)+5,000
Agriculture	Jobs (% change since last month)+9.7%	Jobs (change since last month)+2,200
Construction	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.4%	Jobs (change since last month)-900
Educational Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.8%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,300
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing	Jobs (% change since last month)-4.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-6,400
Health Care and Social Assistance	Jobs (% change since last month)+0.4%	Jobs (change since last month)+1,200
Manufacturing	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.7%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,000
Other Primary	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.2%	Jobs (change since last month)-600
Other Services	Jobs (% change since last month)-1.5%	Jobs (change since last month)-1,800
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Jobs (% change since last month)+2.9%	Jobs (change since last month)+5,900
Public Administration	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.9%	Jobs (change since last month)-900
Transportation and Warehousing	Jobs (% change since last month)+3.0%	Jobs (change since last month)+3,900
Utilities	Jobs (% change since last month)+1.5%	Jobs (change since last month)+200
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Jobs (% change since last month)-0.6%	Jobs (change since last month)-2,300

Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)

Regional highlights

Unemployment rate (%)	April 2018	vs	April 2017
Cariboo	April 20185.9%	vs	April 20178.9%
Kootenay	April 20185.4%	vs	April 20177.4%
Mainland / Southwest	April 20184.3%	vs	April 20174.8%
Abbotsford	April 2018 4.4%	vs	April 2017 5.7%
Mission	April 2018 4.4%	vs	April 2017 N/A
Vancouver	April 2018 4.1%	vs	April 2017 4.8%
North Coast & Nechako	April 20188.1%	vs	April 20176.2%
Northeast	April 20186.3%	vs	April 20175.5%
Thompson-Okanagan	April 20187.1%	vs	April 20177.3%
Kelowna	April 2018 4.8%	vs	April 2017 4.8%
Vancouver Island / Coast	April 20185.2%	vs	April 20175.3%
Victoria	April 2018 4.2%	vs	April 2017 3.7%

N/A - Data not available

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