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Northeast

Table of contents

Regional overview Population distribution Employment statistics

This region's industries and sectors B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031) for this region

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Latest numbers for this region in December 2022

Total regional population (age 15+): 55,600

Total regional employment: 37,300

Regional unemployment rate: 3.8 %

Total regional employment: 37,300

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

Regional overview

The Northeast economic region shares a border with Alberta and the Yukon and is part of the Peace River Basin. It is separated from the northwestern part of the province by the Rocky Mountain Trench. The main population centres in the region are Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.

Regional district	Key cities
Regional district Northern Rockies	Key cities Fort Nelson
Regional district Peace River	Key cities Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd

Key facts

Northeast is the least populated region in the province.
About 68 percent of the region’s population was of working age (15-64).
The region’s unemployment rate is consistently lower than the provincial rate.
The Service sector is the primary source of employment in the region.

Population distribution

Regional district	Population
Northern Rockies	5,000
Peace River	67,300
Regional district total	72,300

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

Source: 2020 BC Stats (population)

Age distribution

Age
% by age for Northeast
% 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%

Northeast employment (2020):

30,700

Total B.C. employment (2020):

1,965,700

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

10-year unemployment rate in Northeast 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 %

Northeast

Low:

4.0 %

High:

9.7 %

Unemployment rate (2020):

6.4 %

10-year average:

6.0 %

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

This region's industries and sectors

Industry	Share of this region's employment	Share of B.C. employment	Sector
Accommodation and Food Services	Share of this region's employment 5.8 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.3 %	Sector Services
Agriculture and Fishing	Share of this region's employment 3.9 %	Share of B.C. employment 2.4 %	Sector Goods
Business, Building and Other Support Services	Share of this region's employment N/A	Share of B.C. employment N/A	Sector Services
Construction	Share of this region's employment 9.7 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.7 %	Sector Goods
Educational Services	Share of this region's employment 7.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.6 %	Sector Services
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	Share of this region's employment 4.7 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.1 %	Sector Services
Forestry and Logging with Support Activities	Share of this region's employment 1.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.8 %	Sector Goods
Health Care and Social Assistance	Share of this region's employment 10.0 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.2 %	Sector Services
Information, Culture and Recreation	Share of this region's employment N/A	Share of B.C. employment N/A	Sector Services
Manufacturing	Share of this region's employment 3.9 %	Share of B.C. employment 0.9 %	Sector Goods
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction	Share of this region's employment 18.9 %	Share of B.C. employment 15.5 %	Sector Goods
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Share of this region's employment 5.5 %	Share of B.C. employment 0.9 %	Sector Services
Public Administration	Share of this region's employment 4.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.3 %	Sector Services
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services	Share of this region's employment 6.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 2.4 %	Sector Services
Retail Trade	Share of this region's employment 21.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.5 %	Sector Services
Transportation and Warehousing	Share of this region's employment 8.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 2.3 %	Sector Services
Utilities	Share of this region's employment N/A	Share of B.C. employment N/A	Sector Goods
Wholesale Trade	Share of this region's employment 5.8 %	Share of B.C. employment 1.3 %	Sector 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

The Northeast region accounts for a small proportion of provincial employment.

Service sector

This region has less employment in the Service sector than most regions. This was reflected in smaller than average shares of provincial employment in many Service industries.

Goods sector

The Northeast accounted for around three percent of provincial employment in the Goods-producing sector (agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas, fishing, hunting and trapping, utilities, construction and manufacturing).

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031) for this region

Composition of job openings

New jobs due to economic growth:
35.0%
4,300 openings

Replacement of retiring workers:
65.0%
8,000 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Employment outlook

2021
2026
2031

Forecasted 10-year total employment growth:	12,300
Forecasted average annual employment growth rate:	1.0%

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Top Ten occupations	Job openings	Employment growth
Top Ten occupations
Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511)	Job openings 660	Employment growth 1.6%
Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing (NOC 9232)	Job openings 340	Employment growth 1.4%
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 1311)	Job openings 330	Employment growth 1.4%
Managers in agriculture (NOC 0821)	Job openings 300	Employment growth 0.7%
Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)	Job openings 280	Employment growth 1.1%
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 6733)	Job openings 270	Employment growth 1.7%
Administrative officers (NOC 1221)	Job openings 270	Employment growth 1.3%
General office support workers (NOC 1411)	Job openings 250	Employment growth 1.2%
Light duty cleaners (NOC 6731)	Job openings 210	Employment growth 1.6%
Retail salespersons (NOC 6421)	Job openings 200	Employment growth 1.0%

View all high opportunity occupations

Top Ten industries	Job openings	Employment growth
Top Ten industries
Construction	Job openings 1,500	Employment growth 0.7%
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction	Job openings 1,300	Employment growth 0.8%
Transportation and Warehousing	Job openings 1,100	Employment growth 1.6%
Retail Trade	Job openings 1,100	Employment growth 1.3%
Health Care and Social Assistance	Job openings 900	Employment growth 1.5%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Job openings 800	Employment growth 2.6%
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services	Job openings 700	Employment growth 1.8%
Educational Services	Job openings 700	Employment growth 0.9%
Accommodation and Food Services	Job openings 600	Employment growth 1.6%
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	Job openings 600	Employment growth 0.8%

Top Industries for this region

Northeast

Latest numbers for this region in December 2022

Regional overview

Key facts

Population distribution

Age distribution

Employment statistics

Full-time employment rate by region

Region

Unemployment rate

This region's industries and sectors

Goods and Services sectors

Share of employment in Goods and Service sectors (2020)

Service sector

Goods sector

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031) for this region

Composition of job openings

Employment outlook

Top Ten occupations