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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 (2021-2031)
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Latest numbers for B.C. in April 2022

4,409,600
2,707,700
5.2 %
2,707,700

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 be

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 169,600
Kootenay 163,100
Mainland / Southwest 3,152,000
North Coast & Nechako 99,800
Northeast 72,300
Thompson-Okanagan 609,300
Vancouver Island / Coast 881,700
Provincial total 5,147,700

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

Source: 2020 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: 2020 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: 79%
Total B.C. employment (2020):
1,965,700

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Unemployment rate

10-year unemployment rate in British Columbia (2010-2020)

  Low:
4.7 %
  High:
8.9 %
Unemployment rate (2020):
8.9 %
10-year average:
6.4 %

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

B.C.'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

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

Goods and Services sectors

Share of employment in Goods and Service sectors (2020)

  Goods         Services

Source: 2020 Labour Force Survey

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031)

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
36.7%
368,800 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
63.3%
634,800 openings
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Employment outlook

  • 2021
  • 2026
  • 2031
Forecasted 10-year total employment growth:   1,003,600
Forecasted average annual employment growth rate:   1.3%

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Top Ten occupations

 Job openings Employment
growth
Top Ten occupations
Retail salespersons (NOC 6421)
Job openings
24,080
Employment growth
1.2%
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
Job openings
20,140
Employment growth
1.2%
Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)
Job openings
20,000
Employment growth
1.3%
Administrative officers (NOC 1221)
Job openings
18,920
Employment growth
1.2%
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
Job openings
18,420
Employment growth
1.9%
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 6711)
Job openings
14,500
Employment growth
1.5%
General office support workers (NOC 1411)
Job openings
14,320
Employment growth
1.1%
Retail sales supervisors (NOC 6211)
Job openings
13,240
Employment growth
1.2%
Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
Job openings
13,120
Employment growth
3.0%
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 6733)
Job openings
13,100
Employment growth
1.2%

View all high opportunity occupations
Top Ten industries Job openings Employment
growth
Top Ten industries
Health Care and Social Assistance 142,900 1.5%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 140,700 2.6%
Retail Trade 103,700 1.3%
Construction 75,900 0.7%
Accommodation and Food Services 65,000 1.6%
Transportation and Warehousing 62,000 1.6%
Educational Services 62,000 0.9%
Information, Culture and Recreation 55,400 1.9%
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate 55,100 0.8%
Manufacturing 50,900 0.4%
Related Topics
Learn about B.C. industries Explore jobs in demand Read the B.C. Labour Market Outlook View labour market snapshots
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