Labour Market Monthly Update
The Labour Market Monthly Update 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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The latest monthly data is displayed below. If you would like to see data from previous months, please select a month from the dropdown.
Employment
Find out about B.C.'s employment trends by employment type, age and sex.
Total Employed (March 2026)
2,908,200
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Employment Change
(since last month)
-19,200
Full Time
-23,700
Part Time
+4,600
% Employment Change
(from last month)
-0.7%
Full Time
-1.0%
Part Time
+0.8%
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Employment by Age Group and Sex
| March 2026 | February 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ||
| 15 - 24 years | 327,600 | 331,800 |
| 25 - 54 years | 1,955,000 | 1,970,000 |
| 55+ years | 625,600 | 625,600 |
| Sex | ||
| Women | 1,396,100 | 1,408,900 |
| Men | 1,512,100 | 1,518,500 |
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment
Discover B.C.'s unemployment trends by rates of unemployment and participation.
Total Unemployed (March 2026)
209,800
Unemployment Rate
6.7%
Participation Rate
64.4%
Total Unemployed (February 2026)
190,700
Unemployment Rate
6.1%
Participation Rate
65.0%
Participation Rate represents the number of people in the workforce that are of working age as a percentage of total BC population.
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment by Region
View the unemployment rates in each region of B.C.
Unemployment Rate
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
| March 2026 | March 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 6.6% | 5.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 5.7% | 4.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 7.8% | 5.8% |
| Kootenay | 7.1% | 6.3% |
| Cariboo | 6.3% | 5.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 9.5% | 6.4% |
| Northeast | 8.7% | 7.0% |
Source: Monthly Labour Force Survey, 3-month moving average, seasonally unadjusted
Industry Highlights
Learn about the employment trends and opportunities in B.C.'s major industries.
| Industry | Employment (change since last month) | Employment (% change since last month) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | +7,200 | +3.8% |
| Agriculture | +2,000 | +9.2% |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | -3,800 | -3.9% |
| Construction | -6,900 | -2.5% |
| Educational Services | -1,600 | -0.7% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing | -5,400 | -2.8% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | -4,900 | -1.2% |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | -4,500 | -3.4% |
| Manufacturing | -3,600 | -2.0% |
| Other Primary | -1,000 | -2.4% |
| Other Services (Except Public Administration) | -3,400 | -2.9% |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | +5,300 | +1.7% |
| Public Administration | -100 | -0.1% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | -2,400 | -1.6% |
| Utilities | +100 | +0.6% |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade | +2,400 | +0.6% |
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)