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.
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 (March 2023)
2,777,300
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Employment Change
(since last month)
-100
Full Time
+1,400
Part Time
-1,500
% Employment Change
(from last month)
0.0%
Full Time
+0.1%
Part Time
-0.3%
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Employment by Age Group and Sex
| March 2023 | February 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ||
| 15 - 24 years | 373,400 | 363,000 |
| 25 - 54 years | 1,799,600 | 1,799,900 |
| 55+ years | 604,400 | 614,500 |
| Sex | ||
| Women | 1,350,300 | 1,355,500 |
| Men | 1,427,100 | 1,422,100 |
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment
Discover B.C.'s unemployment trends by rates of unemployment and participation.
Total Unemployed (March 2023)
131,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Participation Rate
65.0%
Total Unemployed (February 2023)
148,300
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Participation Rate
65.5%
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
| March 2023 | March 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 4.7% | 5.9% |
| Kootenay | 3.2% | 5.5% |
| Cariboo | 7.1% | 3.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Northeast | 5.3% | 4.1% |
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 | +3,700 | +1.9% |
| Agriculture | -5,000 | -17.1% |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | Not available | Not available |
| Construction | -4,000 | -1.6% |
| Educational Services | +1,400 | +0.7% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing | -100 | -0.1% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | -5,800 | -1.6% |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | Not available | Not available |
| Manufacturing | +1,300 | +0.7% |
| Other Primary | -1,100 | -2.4% |
| Other Services (Except Public Administration) | -3,200 | -3.0% |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | -900 | -0.3% |
| Public Administration | -1,100 | -0.8% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | +9,100 | +6.9% |
| Utilities | +1,800 | +12.2% |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade | +3,400 | +0.8% |
Source: Labour Force Survey (monthly, seasonally adjusted)