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Kootenay

Table of contents
Regional overview Population distribution Employment statistics
This region's industries and sectors B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029) for this region
View full profile

Latest numbers for this region in September 2021

139,000
79,500
6.5 %
79,500

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

Regional overview

The Kootenay economic region is located in the southeast corner of the province, between the Rocky Mountains to the east, the United States to the south and the Thompson-Okanagan region to the north and west. Cranbrook is the largest population centre in the region.

Regional district Key cities
Regional district Central Kootenay Key cities Nelson, Castlegar, Creston
Regional district East Kootenay Key cities Cranbrook, Kimberly, Fernie
Regional district Kootenay Boundary Key cities Trail, Grand Forks

Key facts

  • Only a small proportion of B.C.’s population lives in Kootenay
  • Kootenay has the highest median age of all the economic regions
  • Unemployment in this region has consistently been higher than in the provincial unemployment rate.
  • Around a tenth of all Kootenay employment was in the Other Primary sector (forestry, mining, oil and gas, fishing, hunting and trapping) in 2019.
  • Kootenay has a high number of jobs in Goods-producing sector industries, the second highest proportion of any of the regions.

Population distribution

Regional district Population
Central Kootenay 58,400
East Kootenay 56,700
Kootenay Boundary 31,100
Regional district total 146,300

Note:Regional district numbers may not add up to regional district total due to rounding.

Source: 2015 BC Stats (population)

Age distribution

  • Age
  •    % by age for Kootenay
  •    % by age for B.C.
  • 0 - 14
  • 15 - 24
  • 25 - 54
  • 55 - 64
  • 65 - 90+

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Employment statistics

Full-time employment rate by region

Region
  • Cariboo
  • Kootenay
  • Mainland / Southwest
  • North Coast & Nechako
  • Northeast
  • Thompson-Okanagan
  • Vancouver Island / Coast

  Full-time employment rate

B.C. average: 79%
Kootenay employment (2020):
57,800
Total B.C. employment (2020):
1,965,700

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

10-year unemployment rate in Kootenay compared to B.C. rate (2010-2020)

  British Columbia
  Low:
4.7 %
  High:
8.9 %
Unemployment rate (2020):
8.9 %
10-year average:
6.4 %
  Kootenay
  Low:
5.3 %
  High:
9.6 %
Unemployment rate (2020):
9.6 %
10-year average:
7.3 %

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

This region's industries and sectors

Industry Sector
Accommodation and Food Services Services
Agriculture and Fishing Goods
Business, Building and Other Support Services Services
Construction Goods
Educational Services Services
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Services
Forestry and Logging with Support Activities Goods
Health Care and Social Assistance Services
Information, Culture and Recreation Services
Manufacturing Goods
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction Goods
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Services
Public Administration Services
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services Services
Retail Trade Services
Transportation and Warehousing Services
Utilities Goods
Wholesale Trade Services

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Goods and Services sectors

Share of employment in Goods and Service sectors (2020)

  Goods         Services

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Service sector

With the abundance of mountain ranges in Kootenay, including the Rocky Mountains, the region is a popular destination for skiers and nature lovers alike. Tourism activities create employment opportunities in the Accommodation and Food Services industry.

Goods sector

Most of Kootenay’s job in the Goods sector (Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, oil and gas, Fishing, hunting and trapping, Utilities, Construction and Manufacturing) are in Mining, particularly coal mining. Several hydroelectric dams, including the Seven Mile, Kootenay Canal, Waneta, Keenleyside and Brilliant dams, are located in the region, creating employment in the Utilities industry.

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029) for this region

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
20.6%
4,900 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
79.4%
19,000 openings
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Employment outlook

  • 2019
  • 2024
  • 2029
Forecasted 10-year total employment growth:   23,900
Forecasted average annual employment growth rate:   0.7%

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Top Ten occupations

 Job openings Employment
growth
Top Ten occupations
Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)
Job openings
760
Employment growth
0.7%
Retail salespersons (NOC 6421)
Job openings
730
Employment growth
0.7%
Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511)
Job openings
650
Employment growth
0.2%
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 6733)
Job openings
500
Employment growth
1.1%
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
Job openings
490
Employment growth
1.7%
Administrative officers (NOC 1221)
Job openings
480
Employment growth
0.8%
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
Job openings
470
Employment growth
1.1%
Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (NOC 7521)
Job openings
430
Employment growth
0.1%
Light duty cleaners (NOC 6731)
Job openings
420
Employment growth
1.8%
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 1311)
Job openings
370
Employment growth
0.5%

View all high opportunity occupations
Top Ten industries Job openings Employment
growth
Top Ten industries
Health Care and Social Assistance 3,700 1.7%
Retail Trade 2,800 0.8%
Accommodation and Food Services 2,400 1.5%
Business, Building and Other Support Services 1,800 1.1%
Information, Culture and Recreation 1,500 1.6%
Educational Services 1,500 0.9%
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction 1,400 1.0%
Transportation and Warehousing 1,300 1.0%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,200 1.9%
Agriculture and Fishing 1,100 0.4%

Note:The Forestry and Logging with Support Activities industry includes support activities for Agriculture.

Top Industries for this region
Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Accommodation and Food Services
Business, Building and Other Support Services
Information, Culture and Recreation
Related Topics
Learn about B.C. industries Explore jobs in demand Read the B.C. Labour Market Outlook View labour market snapshots