Utilities

Overview

Employment summary

Growth (2019-2020):

+45.3%

Job growth (2019-2020):

+5,800

Total employment (2020):

18,600

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Key points

The Utilities industry in B.C. has a small workforce that is mainly employed in larger establishments. There is no self-employment in this industry.
The industry relies more on capital equipment than on labour to produce its output, so the human element is much smaller than in most other industries.
Most of the employment in this industry occurs in the Mainland / Southwest region, followed by the Thompson-Okanagan region.
Wages for most workers in the industry are higher than the provincial average for all industries.

The Utilities industry includes businesses that operate electric power, gas and water systems.

Water is used to generate about 90 percent of B.C.’s electric power. Electricity is also generated by power plants, most of which are fueled by natural gas.

Water purification and distribution, and sewer services are also included in this industry.

Workforce

Gender

Employment by gender in 2020

Men: 70%

Women: 30%

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Provincial average in 2020

Men: 52%

Women: 48%

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Age groups

% of employees under 25 years of age

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

% of employees 55 years and older

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Employment

Types of employment

	2015	2020	B.C. average (2020)
Part time (% of employees working part time)	2015 N/A	2020 N/A	B.C. average (2020) 21%
Self-employed (% of employees who are self-employed)	2015 N/A	2020 N/A	B.C. average (2020) 18%
Temporary jobs (% of employees in temporary jobs)	2015 N/A	2020 N/A	B.C. average (2020) 11%

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Workplace

% of workers in firms less than 20 employees

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

% of workers in private sector jobs

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Earnings

Average hourly wages in this industry

Men

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Women

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Youth

2015
2020
B.C. average (2020)

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Location of work

% employment of this industry

% employment of all industries

Vancouver Island / Coast

Mainland / Southwest

Thompson-Okanagan

Kootenay

Cariboo

North Coast & Nechako

Northeast

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Employment outlook

			2021	2026	2031
Forecasted employment			2021 17,400	2026 17,700	2031 17,900

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted average annual employment growth rate

2021 - 2026
2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted industry share of total employment

2021
2026
2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Related careers

Utilities managers (NOC 0912)

Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)

Electrical power line and cable workers (NOC 7244)

Power engineers and power systems operators (NOC 9241)

Water and waste treatment plant operators (NOC 9243)

Additional resources

British Columbia Water and Waste Association
http://www.bcwwa.org

Canadian Hydropower Association
https://canadahydro.ca

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
http://www.cwwa.ca

Centre for Energy
http://www.centreforenergy.com

North American Industry Classification System
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/concepts/industry-industrie-eng.htm