vineyard and ocean mountain view

Thompson-Okanagan

Regional Profile
Population - age 15+
(Dec 2023)
531,000
Employment
(Dec 2023)
288,900
Unemployment Rate
(Dec 2023)
3.4%
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
119,960

Region Overview

The Thompson-Okanagan economic region is located in the interior of the province. It stretches from Princeton in the west to Golden and the Alberta border in the east, to Osoyoos and the Washington state border in the south. Kelowna and Kamloops are the largest cities in the region.

Key Facts

  • Thompson-Okanagan is the third most populated region in the province.
  • Most of the region’s population is of working age (15–64 years old), the lowest share in the province.
  • The median age of the region’s population is higher than the provincial median age.
  • The region’s unemployment rate is consistently higher than the provincial rate.
  • A large share of B.C.’s Agriculture employment is located in this region.

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Employment for this Region (2021)

292,300
Full-time employment:78%
Part-time employment:22%

Employment for all of B.C. (2021)

2,655,700
Full-time employment (average):78%
Part-time employment (average):22%
Source: 2021 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment Rate for this Region (2021)

5.9%

Unemployment Rate for all of B.C. (2021)

6.5%

10-year Unemployment Rate
Unemployment rate refers to the percentage of the population 15 years and older that are not employed.

Thompson-Okanagan
Low:
4.9%
High:
9%
British Columbia
Low:
4.7%
High:
8.9%
Source: 2021 Labour Force Survey

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Total Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

119,960
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted 10-Year Total Employment Growth

119,960

Forecasted Average Annual Employment Growth Rate

1.4%

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate (2022 - 2032)

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Top Occupations

Top occupations are those with stronger demand and offer higher pay compared to other occupations.

Industry Highlights

The Thompson-Okanagan region accounts for the third largest percentage of provincial employment.

Services sector

With its hot, dry summers, Thompson-Okanagan is popular as both a vacation destination and a place for retirees to live. These factors play a role in the region’s relatively large share of provincial employment in some Services sector industries.

Goods sector

Thompson-Okanagan has some of the best agricultural land in the province and is a prime location for vineyards and orchards. There are also some cattle ranches in the region. Thompson-Okanagan accounts for a moderate proportion of provincial employment in the Goods-producing sector (Agriculture; Forestry; Mining, Oil and Gas; Fishing, Hunting and Trapping; Utilities; Construction; and Manufacturing). Agricultural employment in high in this region.