Back

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 March 2021

Total regional population (age 15+): 741,100

Total regional employment: 399,200

Regional unemployment rate: 7.4 %
- In Victoria 5.9 %

Total regional employment: 399,200

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	Share of this region's employment	Share of B.C. employment	Sector
Accommodation and Food Services	Share of this region's employment 8.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 16.7 %	Sector Services
Agriculture and Fishing	Share of this region's employment 1.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 21.7 %	Sector Goods
Business, Building and Other Support Services	Share of this region's employment 4.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 14.5 %	Sector Services
Construction	Share of this region's employment 9.4 %	Share of B.C. employment 15.4 %	Sector Goods
Educational Services	Share of this region's employment 7.5 %	Share of B.C. employment 16.3 %	Sector Services
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	Share of this region's employment 4.7 %	Share of B.C. employment 11.4 %	Sector Services
Forestry and Logging with Support Activities	Share of this region's employment 1.1 %	Share of B.C. employment 26.7 %	Sector Goods
Health Care and Social Assistance	Share of this region's employment 15.3 %	Share of B.C. employment 19.0 %	Sector Services
Information, Culture and Recreation	Share of this region's employment 4.0 %	Share of B.C. employment 11.9 %	Sector Services
Manufacturing	Share of this region's employment 4.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 9.8 %	Sector Goods
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction	Share of this region's employment 0.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 8.7 %	Sector Goods
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Share of this region's employment 7.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 12.6 %	Sector Services
Public Administration	Share of this region's employment 9.2 %	Share of B.C. employment 30.7 %	Sector Services
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services	Share of this region's employment 5.1 %	Share of B.C. employment 16.7 %	Sector Services
Retail Trade	Share of this region's employment 11.8 %	Share of B.C. employment 15.2 %	Sector Services
Transportation and Warehousing	Share of this region's employment 3.6 %	Share of B.C. employment 9.9 %	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 2.1 %	Share of B.C. employment 9.2 %	Sector 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	Job openings 29,300	Employment growth 1.7%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Job openings 16,000	Employment growth 1.9%
Retail Trade	Job openings 14,600	Employment growth 0.8%
Accommodation and Food Services	Job openings 13,500	Employment growth 1.5%
Educational Services	Job openings 11,700	Employment growth 0.9%
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services	Job openings 10,400	Employment growth 0.8%
Public Administration	Job openings 9,600	Employment growth 0.5%
Business, Building and Other Support Services	Job openings 8,000	Employment growth 1.1%
Information, Culture and Recreation	Job openings 7,700	Employment growth 1.6%
Construction	Job openings 7,500	Employment growth 0.2%

Top Industries for this region

Vancouver Island / Coast

Latest numbers for this region in March 2021

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 (2019)

Service sector

Goods sector

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

Composition of job openings

Employment outlook

Top Ten occupations