Vancouver Island and Coast Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 14,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 400 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 2,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 400 people from the previous month and increased by 1,100 compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 400 jobs from last month and increased by 1,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 2,200 jobs from last month and increased by 13,300 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 400 from the previous month and increased by 1,100 compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,700 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 14,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 1,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 14,500 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 39,500 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 20,700 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 6,900 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 : 85,400 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 66,100 workers.
  • Public administration : 45,200 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

  • Agriculture : Change of 2,100 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 2,000 workers ( increased by 10.7 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 4.72 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,500 workers ( increased by 2.32 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 2.49 %).

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 6,300 workers ( increased by 24.23 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 5,100 workers ( increased by 14.33 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 4,900 workers ( increased by 31.01 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,900 workers ( increased by 6.09 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 4,700 workers ( decreased by 19.58 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 4,700 workers ( increased by 12.84 %).

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: Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 13,720 in December 2024, it reduced by 210 jobs from November and showed a decline of 590 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 56.2%. It fell of 0.9 percentage points from November and showed decline by 3.2 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 5.4%. It showed growth by 0.2 percentage points month-over-month, and rose by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 13,720, showing a moderate decrease of 210. from December, employment levels showed a decline of 590, showing strain.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.2% in December 2024. This represents a decline of 0.9 percentage points from November (57.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 3.2 percentage points from 59.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.4% in December 2024, up 0.2 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (4.8%), the rate has increased by 0.6 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (0.24) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.39) 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 -0.54 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Port Alberni consists of the following communities: Port Alberni, Alberni-Clayoquot B, Alberni-Clayoquot D, Alberni-Clayoquot E, Alberni-Clayoquot F, Ahahswinis 1, Alberni 2, Tsahaheh 1, Klehkoot 2 .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.

Port Alberni consists of the following communities: Port Alberni, Alberni-Clayoquot B, Alberni-Clayoquot D, Alberni-Clayoquot E, Alberni-Clayoquot F, Ahahswinis 1, Alberni 2, Tsahaheh 1, Klehkoot 2 .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 13,720, showing a moderate decrease of 210. from December, employment levels showed a decline of 590, showing strain.

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Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.2% in December 2024. This represents a decline of 0.9 percentage points from November (57.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 3.2 percentage points from 59.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.4% in December 2024, up 0.2 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (4.8%), the rate has increased by 0.6 percentage points.

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Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.39) 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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Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.54 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

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Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 400 jobs from last month and increased by 1,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 2,200 jobs from last month and increased by 13,300 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 400 from the previous month and increased by 1,100 compared to last year.

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Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

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Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,700 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 14,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 1,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 14,500 jobs in total.

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Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 39,500 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 20,700 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 6,900 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 : 85,400 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 66,100 workers.
  • Public administration : 45,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

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Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Agriculture : Change of 2,100 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 2,000 workers ( increased by 10.7 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 4.72 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,500 workers ( increased by 2.32 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 2.49 %).

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

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Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 6,300 workers ( increased by 24.23 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 5,100 workers ( increased by 14.33 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 4,900 workers ( increased by 31.01 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,900 workers ( increased by 6.09 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 4,700 workers ( decreased by 19.58 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 4,700 workers ( increased by 12.84 %).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

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Economic region

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. Key industries driving the trend are: Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

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Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Port Alberni ranks 19th with an employment rate of 56.2%. The provincial range is 36.2% to 63.2%, with half of areas between 42.5% and 54.7% (median: 48.8%).

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Port Alberni ranks 14th with an unemployment rate of 5.4%. The provincial range is 3.6% to 15.6%, with half of areas between 5.5% and 7.0% (median: 6.1%).

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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.