Vancouver Island and Coast Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 4,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 5,800 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 2,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 11,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 2,500 people from the previous month and increased by 1,700 compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,800 jobs from last month and decreased by 5,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,200 jobs from last month and increased by 11,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 2,500 from the previous month and increased by 1,700 compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 4,000 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net decreased by 4,000 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 5,600 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 40,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 21,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 6,700 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 : 85,200 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 66,500 workers.
  • Public administration : 44,400 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

  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 2,900 workers ( decreased by 12.83 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 4.02 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 1,000 workers ( decreased by 2.46 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 5.59 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 5.77 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 5.81 %).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 6,900 workers ( increased by 25.84 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 5,300 workers ( decreased by 25.85 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 5,100 workers ( increased by 31.48 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,400 workers ( increased by 5.45 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 4,300 workers ( increased by 11.85 %).

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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment reached 240,350 in December 2024, it gained 7,440 jobs from November and increased by 9,120 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 63.2%. It showed growth of 1.8 percentage points from November and showed growth by 0.4 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate is 3.6%. It declined by 0.1 percentage points month-over-month, and declined by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 240,350, showing a significant increase of 7,440. against December, employment levels grew by 9,120, indicating growth.

Scroll down to explore more data

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 63.2% in December 2024. This represents a rise of 1.8 percentage points from November (61.4%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.4 percentage points from 62.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 3.6% in December 2024, down 0.1 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (3.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.61) 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 (0.66) 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 0.57 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

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 .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

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 December 2024 was 240,350, showing a significant increase of 7,440. against December, employment levels grew by 9,120, indicating growth.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 63.2% in December 2024. This represents a rise of 1.8 percentage points from November (61.4%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.4 percentage points from 62.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 3.6% in December 2024, down 0.1 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (3.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.66) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.57 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,800 jobs from last month and decreased by 5,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,200 jobs from last month and increased by 11,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 2,500 from the previous month and increased by 1,700 compared to last year.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 4,000 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net decreased by 4,000 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 5,600 jobs in total.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 40,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 21,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 6,700 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 : 85,200 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 66,500 workers.
  • Public administration : 44,400 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 March, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 2,900 workers ( decreased by 12.83 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 4.02 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 1,000 workers ( decreased by 2.46 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 5.59 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 5.77 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 5.81 %).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 6,900 workers ( increased by 25.84 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 5,300 workers ( decreased by 25.85 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 5,100 workers ( increased by 31.48 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,400 workers ( increased by 5.45 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 4,300 workers ( increased by 11.85 %).

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 March, 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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Victoria ranks 1st with an employment rate of 63.2%. The provincial range is 36.2% to 63.2%, with half of areas between 42.5% and 54.7% (median: 48.8%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Victoria ranks 1st with an unemployment rate of 3.6%. The provincial range is 3.6% to 15.6%, with half of areas between 5.5% and 7.0% (median: 6.1%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025

Powered by © 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

Loading...
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information

Forecasted employment in the period 2024-2034

Loading...
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

Loading...
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.