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Wholesale Trade

Table of contents

Overview Workforce Employment Earnings

Location of work Employment outlook Related careers Additional resources

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Overview

Employment summary

Growth (2016-2017):

-7.0%

Job growth (2016-2017):

-6,100

Total employment (2017):

83,600

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Key points

The Wholesale industry accounts for a large portion of provincial employment.
The industry is sensitive to general economic conditions, as well as to changing consumer trends.
Most jobs in this industry are located in the regions with the highest populations: Mainland / Southwest and Vancouver Island / Coast.
Wages for most workers in this industry are below the provincial all-industry average.

Wholesalers can be thought of as “middle men,” usually supplying goods for resale or industrial use.

The Wholesale Trade industry includes everything from small corner stores to big-box chains and wholesale distribution centres.

Workforce

Gender

Employment by gender in 2017

Men: 65%

Women: 35%

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Provincial average in 2017

Men: 52%

Women: 48%

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Age groups

% of employees under 25 years of age

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

% of employees 55 years and older

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Employment

Types of employment

	2012	2017	B.C. average (2017)
Part time (% of employees working part time)	2012 11%	2017 9%	B.C. average (2017) 22%
Self-employed (% of employees who are self-employed)	2012 21%	2017 13%	B.C. average (2017) 18%
Temporary jobs (% of employees in temporary jobs)	2012 5%	2017 6%	B.C. average (2017) 14%

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Workplace

% of workers in firms less than 20 employees

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

% of workers in private sector jobs

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Earnings

Average hourly wages in this industry

Men

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Women

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Youth

2012
2017
B.C. average (2017)

Source: 2017 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

Source: 2017 Labour Force Survey

Employment outlook

			2019	2024	2029
Forecasted employment			2019 83,600	2024 88,200	2029 91,300

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted average annual employment growth rate

2019 - 2024
2024 - 2029

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted industry share of total employment

2019
2024
2029

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade (NOC 6221)

Sales and account representatives - wholesale trade (non-technical) (NOC 6411)

Retail salespersons (NOC 6421)

Material handlers (NOC 7452)

Additional resources

Industry Canada
http://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/engdoc/main.html

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

Retail Council of Canada
http://www.retailcouncil.org

Retail Wholesale Union
http://www.rwunion.com

Shelfspace – The Association for Retail Entrepreneurs
http://www.shelfspace.ca

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Latest numbers for B.C. in January 2020