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Utilities

Table of contents

Overview Workforce Employment Earnings

Location of work Employment outlook Related careers Additional resources

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Overview

Employment summary

Growth (2014-2015):

+5.8%

Job growth (2014-2015):

+800

Total employment (2015):

14,500

Source: 2015 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 jobs in this industry are located 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 2015

Men: 77%

Women: 23%

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Provincial average in 2015

Men: 52%

Women: 48%

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Age groups

% of employees under 25 years of age

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

% of employees 55 years and older

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Employment

Types of employment

	2010	2015	B.C. average (2015)
Part time (% of employees working part time)	2010 N/A	2015 N/A	B.C. average (2015) 21%
Self-employed (% of employees who are self-employed)	2010 N/A	2015 N/A	B.C. average (2015) 18%
Temporary jobs (% of employees in temporary jobs)	2010 N/A	2015 N/A	B.C. average (2015) 14%

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Workplace

% of workers in firms less than 20 employees

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

% of workers in private sector jobs

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Earnings

Average hourly wages in this industry

Men

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Women

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

Source: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Youth

2010
2015
B.C. average (2015)

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2015 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: 2015 Labour Force Survey

Employment outlook

			2017	2022	2027
Forecasted employment			2017 14,500	2022 14,500	2027 14,900

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted average annual employment growth rate

2017 - 2022
2022 - 2027

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted industry share of total employment

2017
2022
2027

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Related careers

Utilities managers (NOC 0912)

Civil engineers (NOC 2131)

Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)

Electrical power line and cable workers (NOC 7244)

Power engineers and power systems operators (NOC 9241)

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

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Latest numbers for B.C. in September 2018