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British Columbia

Table of contents

Provincial overview Population distribution Employment statistics

B.C.'s industries and sectors B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029)

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Latest numbers for B.C. in December 2020

Total B.C. population (age 15+): 4,193,200

Total B.C. employment: 2,493,500

B.C. unemployment rate: 7.2 %

Total B.C. employment: 2,493,500

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

Provincial overview

British Columbia is Canada’s westernmost province. It is bordered by Yukon to the north, Alberta to the east, the United States to the south and the Pacific Ocean and the Alaska Panhandle to the west. The province includes Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, as well as numerous other smaller islands.

There are seven economic regions within the province, as shown in the table below:

Economic development regions

Region	Key cities
Region Cariboo	Key cities Williams Lake, Quesnel, 100 Mile House, Prince George, Mackenzie
Region Kootenay	Key cities Nelson, Castlegar, Creston, Cranbrook, Kimberly, Fernie, Trail, Grand Forks
Region Mainland / Southwest	Key cities Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Delta, Langley, North Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Gibsons, Sechelt, Chilliwack, Mission
Region North Coast & Nechako	Key cities Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Terrace, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Smithers, Masset
Region Northeast	Key cities Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, Fort Nelson
Region Thompson-Okanagan	Key cities Merritt, Ashcroft, Kamloops, Penticton, Summerland, Kelowna, Vernon, Coldstream, Golden, Revelstoke
Region Vancouver Island / Coast	Key cities Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Campbell River, Courtenay, Comox, Duncan, Powell River, Tofino, Ucluelet

Key facts

B.C.’s population is highly concentrated in urban areas. According to the last census, 85 percent of the population lives in urban areas of B.C.
Around 60 percent of B.C.’s population resided in Mainland / Southwest. About 67 percent of the province’s population was of working age (15–64 years old), ranging from a low of 63 percent in Thompson-Okanagan to a high of 69 percent in Mainland / Southwest in 2016.
In 2019 B.C.’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, which is lower than Canada’s unemployment rate of 6.9 percent.
About 80 percent of employment in the province was in the Service sector, including 15 percent in Wholesale and Retail Trade and 12 percent in Health Care and Social Assistance.
Construction (9 percent of total employment) and Manufacturing (6 percent) accounted for most of the employment in B.C.’s Goods sector. Less than 3 percent of B.C.’s jobs were in Agriculture and Other Primary industries.

Population distribution

Region	Population
Cariboo	154,300
Kootenay	146,300
Mainland / Southwest	2,657,700
North Coast & Nechako	96,000
Northeast	65,700
Thompson-Okanagan	520,800
Vancouver Island / Coast	759,400
Provincial total	4,400,100

Note:Region numbers may not add up to provincial total due to rounding.

Source: 2015 BC Stats (population)

Age distribution

Age
% by age for
% 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%

Total B.C. employment (2019):

1,998,600

Source: 2019 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

10-year unemployment rate in British Columbia (2009-2019)

Low:

4.7 %

High:

7.7 %

Unemployment rate (2019):

4.7 %

10-year average:

6.3 %

Source: 2019 Labour Force Survey

B.C.'s industries and sectors

Industry	Share of B.C. employment	Sector
Accommodation and Food Services	Share of B.C. employment 7.5 %	Sector Services
Agriculture and Fishing	Share of B.C. employment 1.1 %	Sector Goods
Business, Building and Other Support Services	Share of B.C. employment 4.4 %	Sector Services
Construction	Share of B.C. employment 9.2 %	Sector Goods
Educational Services	Share of B.C. employment 7.0 %	Sector Services
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	Share of B.C. employment 6.2 %	Sector Services
Forestry and Logging with Support Activities	Share of B.C. employment 0.6 %	Sector Goods
Health Care and Social Assistance	Share of B.C. employment 12.2 %	Sector Services
Information, Culture and Recreation	Share of B.C. employment 5.1 %	Sector Services
Manufacturing	Share of B.C. employment 6.5 %	Sector Goods
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction	Share of B.C. employment 1.0 %	Sector Goods
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Share of B.C. employment 8.7 %	Sector Services
Public Administration	Share of B.C. employment 4.5 %	Sector Services
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services	Share of B.C. employment 4.6 %	Sector Services
Retail Trade	Share of B.C. employment 11.8 %	Sector Services
Transportation and Warehousing	Share of B.C. employment 5.5 %	Sector Services
Utilities	Share of B.C. employment 0.5 %	Sector Goods
Wholesale Trade	Share of B.C. employment 3.4 %	Sector Services

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

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029)

Composition of job openings

New jobs due to economic growth:
30.5%
262,900 openings

Replacement of retiring workers:
69.5%
598,200 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Employment outlook

2019
2024
2029

Forecasted 10-year total employment growth:	861,100
Forecasted average annual employment growth rate:	1.0%

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Top Ten occupations	Job openings	Employment growth
Top Ten occupations
Retail salespersons (NOC 6421)	Job openings 24,910	Employment growth 0.8%
Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)	Job openings 19,710	Employment growth 0.8%
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)	Job openings 19,590	Employment growth 1.3%
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)	Job openings 17,890	Employment growth 2.1%
Administrative officers (NOC 1221)	Job openings 16,320	Employment growth 1.0%
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 6711)	Job openings 14,420	Employment growth 1.5%
Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511)	Job openings 13,340	Employment growth 0.9%
General office support workers (NOC 1411)	Job openings 13,130	Employment growth 0.9%
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 6733)	Job openings 12,790	Employment growth 1.0%
Cooks (NOC 6322)	Job openings 12,160	Employment growth 1.5%

View all high opportunity occupations

Top Ten industries	Job openings	Employment growth
Top Ten industries
Health Care and Social Assistance	Job openings 148,100	Employment growth 1.7%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	Job openings 105,900	Employment growth 1.9%
Retail Trade	Job openings 85,000	Employment growth 0.8%
Accommodation and Food Services	Job openings 73,600	Employment growth 1.5%
Educational Services	Job openings 70,900	Employment growth 0.9%
Construction	Job openings 65,700	Employment growth 0.2%
Information, Culture and Recreation	Job openings 61,300	Employment growth 1.6%
Transportation and Warehousing	Job openings 55,100	Employment growth 1.0%
Business, Building and Other Support Services	Job openings 50,500	Employment growth 1.1%
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	Job openings 50,000	Employment growth 0.5%

Recent job openings for B.C.

British Columbia

Latest numbers for B.C. in December 2020

Provincial overview

Economic development regions

Key facts

Population distribution

Age distribution

Employment statistics

Full-time employment rate by region

Region

Unemployment rate

B.C.'s industries and sectors

Goods and Services sectors

Share of employment in Goods and Service sectors (2019)

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029)

Composition of job openings

Employment outlook

Top Ten occupations

Embroidery Machine Operator

Youth Support Worker

K-max Sales Associate