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Vancouver Island / Coast

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 December 2020

54,600
378,200
7.3 %
5.8 %
378,200

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

Regional overview

The Vancouver Island / Coast economic region is located on the west coast of B.C. and includes all of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and some of the coastal regions of the Mainland, from the Powell River area up to the Central Coast. It includes Nanaimo and the provincial capital, Victoria.

Regional district Key cities
Regional district Alberni-Clayoquot Key cities Tofino, Ucluelet, Port Alberni
Regional district Capital Key cities Saanich, Victoria
Regional district Central Coast Key cities
Regional district Comox Valley Key cities Courtenay, Comox
Regional district Cowichan Valley Key cities North Cowichan, Ladysmith, Duncan
Regional district Mount Waddington Key cities Port Hardy, Port McNeil
Regional district Nanaimo Key cities Nanaimo, Parksville
Regional district Powell River Key cities Powell River
Regional district Strathcona Key cities Campbell River

Key facts

  • The Capital Regional District is the most highly populated area in Vancouver Island / Coast.
  • Of all the regions, Vancouver Island / Coast had the smallest proportion of children (14 years of age and younger) in its population. It also had one of the highest shares of seniors (65 years of age and older). As a result, the median age in Vancouver Island / Coast was among the highest of all the regions.
  • A large proportion of B.C.’s Public Administration jobs are located in Vancouver Island / Coast, reflecting the presence of the provincial capital in the region.
  • The majority of jobs in Vancouver Island / Coast are in the Service sector.

Population distribution

Regional district Population
Alberni-Clayoquot 31,100
Capital 360,000
Central Coast 3,200
Comox Valley 63,500
Cowichan Valley 80,300
Mount Waddington 11,500
Nanaimo 146,600
Powell River 19,900
Strathcona 43,300
Regional district total 759,400

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 Vancouver Island / Coast
  •    % by age for B.C.
  • 0 - 14
  • 15 - 24
  • 25 - 54
  • 55 - 64
  • 65 - 90+

Source: 2019 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: 78%
Vancouver Island / Coast employment (2019):
294,000
Total B.C. employment (2019):
1,998,600

Source: 2019 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

10-year unemployment rate in Vancouver Island / Coast compared to B.C. rate (2009-2019)

  British Columbia
  Low:
4.7 %
  High:
7.7 %
Unemployment rate (2019):
4.7 %
10-year average:
6.3 %
  Vancouver Island / Coast
  Low:
4.1 %
  High:
7.8 %
Unemployment rate (2019):
4.1 %
10-year average:
6.0 %

Source: 2019 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: 2019 Labour Force Survey

Goods and Services sectors

Share of employment in Goods and Service sectors (2019)

  Goods         Services

Source: 2019 Labour Force Survey

The Vancouver Island/Coast region accounts for the second largest percentage of provincial employment.

Service sector

Vancouver Island/Coast is a mixture of urban and rural areas, and its economy reflects this diversity. As Victoria is the capital city, there is a large government presence.

Goods sector

Vancouver Island / Coast accounts for a large proportion of provincial employment in the Goods producing sector (agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas, fishing, hunting and trapping, utilities, construction and manufacturing).

In the more rural areas of Vancouver Island / Coast, there are significant resource-based activities.

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

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
26.1%
37,600 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
73.9%
106,200 openings
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Employment outlook

  • 2019
  • 2024
  • 2029
Forecasted 10-year total employment growth:   143,800
Forecasted average annual employment growth rate:   0.9%

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Top Ten occupations

 Job openings Employment
growth
Top Ten occupations
Retail salespersons (NOC 6421)
Job openings
4,640
Employment growth
0.8%
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
Job openings
3,900
Employment growth
1.2%
Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)
Job openings
3,880
Employment growth
0.8%
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
Job openings
3,540
Employment growth
1.8%
Administrative officers (NOC 1221)
Job openings
3,080
Employment growth
0.8%
Social and community service workers (NOC 4212)
Job openings
2,440
Employment growth
1.4%
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 6733)
Job openings
2,350
Employment growth
1.1%
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 6711)
Job openings
2,330
Employment growth
1.5%
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 4032)
Job openings
2,230
Employment growth
1.2%
General office support workers (NOC 1411)
Job openings
2,190
Employment growth
0.8%

View all high opportunity occupations
Top Ten industries Job openings Employment
growth
Top Ten industries
Health Care and Social Assistance 29,300 1.7%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 16,000 1.9%
Retail Trade 14,600 0.8%
Accommodation and Food Services 13,500 1.5%
Educational Services 11,700 0.9%
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services 10,400 0.8%
Public Administration 9,600 0.5%
Business, Building and Other Support Services 8,000 1.1%
Information, Culture and Recreation 7,700 1.6%
Construction 7,500 0.2%
Top Industries for this region
Health Care and Social Assistance
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Retail Trade
Accommodation and Food Services
Educational Services
Related Topics
Learn about B.C. industries Explore jobs in demand Read the B.C. Labour Market Outlook View labour market snapshots