Vancouver Island and Coast Economic Region
Workforce Insights
Key Insights
Employment
decreased by 300 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 6,500 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment
decreased by 4,600 jobs
from the previous month and
decreased by 500 jobs
year-over-year.
Part-time Employment
increased by 4,400 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 7,100 jobs
year-over-year.
Unemployment
decreased by 1,900 people
from the previous month and
increased by 3,500 people
compared to the same month last year.
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
decreased by 4,600 jobs
from last month and
decreased by 500 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
increased by 4,400 jobs
from last month and
increased by 7,100 jobs
year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
decreased by 1,900 people
from the previous month and
increased by 3,500 people
compared to last year.
Scroll down to explore the data
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
increased by 0.1 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Unemployment Rate
increased by 0.7 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
increased by 0.6 percentage points
year-over-year.
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
decreased by 300 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 6,500 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, employment
decreased by 300 jobs
.
Over the last year, the labor market has
increased by 6,500 jobs
.
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
42,100
workers.
Manufacturing
:
17,400
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
7,200
workers.
The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.
Top 3 Industries in Services Sector
Health care and social assistance
:
82,200
workers.
Wholesale and retail trade
:
65,800
workers.
Public administration
:
42,700
workers.
In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.
Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month
Public administration
: Change of
3,300
workers (
decreased by
7.17
%).
Educational services
: Change of
3,000
workers (
increased by
9.38
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
2,000
workers (
decreased by
10.2
%).
Other services (except public administration)
: Change of
1,900
workers (
increased by
10.61
%).
Construction
: Change of
1,200
workers (
decreased by
2.77
%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
7,800
workers (
increased by
13.45
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
4,800
workers (
decreased by
21.43
%).
Business, building and other support services
: Change of
4,300
workers (
increased by
30.5
%).
Manufacturing
: Change of
2,800
workers (
decreased by
13.86
%).
Agriculture
: Change of
2,300
workers (
increased by
65.71
%).
The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.
Conclusion
The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year.
Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.
Local Workforce Insights
Key Local Labour Market Insights
Total local employment is 232,250 in August 2025, it showed a decline of 4,670 jobs from July and showed a decline of 5,470 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate registered 60.9%. It declined of 1.3 percentage points
from July and showed decline by 2.3 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate is 6.0%. It showed decline by 0.2 percentage points month-over-month, and expanded by 0.9 percentage points year-over-year.
Employment Trends
Total employment in August 2025 was 232,250, showing a measured decrease of 4,670. from August, employment levels decreased by 5,470, showing strain.
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Employment Rate Dynamics
The employment rate reached 60.9% in August 2025. This represents a decline of 1.3 percentage points from July (62.2%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 2.3 percentage points from 63.2%.
Unemployment Rate Trends
The unemployment rate was 6.0% in August 2025, down 0.2 percentage points from July. Compared to August last year (5.1%), the rate has increased by 0.9 percentage points.
Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns
The moderate correlation (0.68) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.53) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of 0.89 shows a strong relationship. This reveals synchronized unemployment patterns, indicating that economic challenges affect both geographic levels similarly.
Victoria
consists of the following communities:
North Saanich, Sidney, Central Saanich, Saanich, Oak Bay, Victoria, Esquimalt, Colwood, Metchosin, Langford, View Royal, Highlands, Sooke, Juan de Fuca (Part 1), Cole Bay 3, Union Bay 4, East Saanich 2, South Saanich 1, Becher Bay 1, Esquimalt, New Songhees 1A, T'Sou-ke
.
Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment,
and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.
Victoria
consists of the following communities:
North Saanich, Sidney, Central Saanich, Saanich, Oak Bay, Victoria, Esquimalt, Colwood, Metchosin, Langford, View Royal, Highlands, Sooke, Juan de Fuca (Part 1), Cole Bay 3, Union Bay 4, East Saanich 2, South Saanich 1, Becher Bay 1, Esquimalt, New Songhees 1A, T'Sou-ke
.
Scroll down to explore the data
Local area
Employment Trends
Total employment in August 2025 was 232,250, showing a measured decrease of 4,670. from August, employment levels decreased by 5,470, showing strain.
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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Local area
Employment Rate Dynamics
The employment rate reached 60.9% in August 2025. This represents a decline of 1.3 percentage points from July (62.2%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 2.3 percentage points from 63.2%.
Unemployment Rate Trends
The unemployment rate was 6.0% in August 2025, down 0.2 percentage points from July. Compared to August last year (5.1%), the rate has increased by 0.9 percentage points.
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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Local area
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.53) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.
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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Local area
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of 0.89 shows a strong relationship. This reveals synchronized unemployment patterns, indicating that economic challenges affect both geographic levels similarly.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
decreased by 4,600 jobs
from last month and
decreased by 500 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
increased by 4,400 jobs
from last month and
increased by 7,100 jobs
year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
decreased by 1,900 people
from the previous month and
increased by 3,500 people
compared to last year.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
increased by 0.1 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Unemployment Rate
increased by 0.7 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
increased by 0.6 percentage points
year-over-year.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
decreased by 300 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 6,500 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, employment
decreased by 300 jobs
.
Over the last year, the labor market has
increased by 6,500 jobs
.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
42,100
workers.
Manufacturing
:
17,400
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
7,200
workers.
The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.
Top 3 Industries in Services Sector
Health care and social assistance
:
82,200
workers.
Wholesale and retail trade
:
65,800
workers.
Public administration
:
42,700
workers.
In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month
Public administration
: Change of
3,300
workers (
decreased by
7.17
%).
Educational services
: Change of
3,000
workers (
increased by
9.38
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
2,000
workers (
decreased by
10.2
%).
Other services (except public administration)
: Change of
1,900
workers (
increased by
10.61
%).
Construction
: Change of
1,200
workers (
decreased by
2.77
%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
7,800
workers (
increased by
13.45
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
4,800
workers (
decreased by
21.43
%).
Business, building and other support services
: Change of
4,300
workers (
increased by
30.5
%).
Manufacturing
: Change of
2,800
workers (
decreased by
13.86
%).
Agriculture
: Change of
2,300
workers (
increased by
65.71
%).
The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Economic region
Conclusion
The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year.
Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Employment rate Provincial Comparison
Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Victoria ranks 24th with an employment rate of 60.9%. The provincial range is 41.4% to 76.1%, with half of areas between 52.4% and 61.5% (median: 56.7%).
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison
Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Victoria ranks 13th with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. The provincial range is 4.7% to 9.8%, with half of areas between 6.1% and 7.9% (median: 6.8%).
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2025
Vancouver Island and Coast Economic region — Labour Market Outlook
Total Job Openings
Most Job Openings
Job openings and employment by occupation and industry for the period 2024-2034
Forecasted number of new job openings in the period 2024-2034
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Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
Forecasted employment in the period 2024-2034
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Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
High-opportunity occupations
High opportunity occupations by NOC based on forecasted number of job openings in the period 2024-2034
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
BC workforce supply composition for the period 2024-2034
Forecasted number of new job market entrants in the period 2024-2034
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Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
These job openings provide a forecast for the demand for labour
with the associated education background. This is a demand projection only
and is not a measure of how many graduates the B.C. education system needs to produce.
These job openings are projected to be supplied through a mix of young
B.C. residents starting work after being educated either in B.C. or
other jurisdictions, immigrants, migrants from other provinces,
or existing residents pursuing additional education.
Planners should take these other possible sources of supply into account
when using these projections for post-secondary program planning purposes.
