Labour Market Monthly Update
The Labour Market Monthly Update offers a quick overview of B.C.'s labour market. You'll find industry and regional highlights, as well as information on provincial employment, unemployment and participation rates.
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The latest monthly data is displayed below. If you would like to see data from previous months, please select a month from the dropdown.
Employment
Find out about B.C.'s employment trends by employment type, age and sex.
Total Employed (April 2026)
2,903,900
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Employment Change
(since last month)
-4,300
Full Time
-11,700
Part Time
+7,300
% Employment Change
(from last month)
-0.1%
Full Time
-0.5%
Part Time
+1.2%
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Employment by Age Group and Sex
| April 2026 | March 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ||
| 15 - 24 years | 331,600 | 327,600 |
| 25 - 54 years | 1,947,400 | 1,955,000 |
| 55+ years | 624,900 | 625,600 |
| Sex | ||
| Women | 1,390,200 | 1,396,100 |
| Men | 1,513,700 | 1,512,100 |
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment
Discover B.C.'s unemployment trends by rates of unemployment and participation.
Total Unemployed (April 2026)
210,700
Unemployment Rate
6.8%
Participation Rate
64.4%
Total Unemployed (March 2026)
209,800
Unemployment Rate
6.7%
Participation Rate
64.4%
Participation Rate represents the number of people in the workforce that are of working age as a percentage of total BC population.
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment by Region
View the unemployment rates in each region of B.C.
Unemployment Rate
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
| April 2026 | April 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 6.7% | 5.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 5.8% | 4.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 8.1% | 5.8% |
| Kootenay | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| Cariboo | 5.8% | 5.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 8.8% | 6.4% |
| Northeast | 9.0% | 7.0% |
Source: Monthly Labour Force Survey, 3-month moving average, seasonally unadjusted
Industry Highlights
Learn about the employment trends and opportunities in B.C.'s major industries.
| Industry | Employment (change since last month) | Employment (% change since last month) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | -6,400 | -3.3% |
| Agriculture | -1,400 | -6.4% |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | +6,600 | +7.3% |
| Construction | +1,400 | +0.5% |
| Educational Services | +3,300 | +1.5% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing | +1,600 | +0.9% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | +1,900 | +0.5% |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | +200 | +0.2% |
| Manufacturing | +3,900 | +2.2% |
| Other Primary | -1,200 | -2.9% |
| Other Services (Except Public Administration) | -6,200 | -5.3% |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | +1,200 | +0.4% |
| Public Administration | +2,900 | +1.9% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | -3,800 | -2.6% |
| Utilities | -600 | -3.4% |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade | -7,700 | -1.9% |
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)