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 registered 13,720 in December 2024, it dropped by 210 jobs from November and fell by 590 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate registered 56.2%. It decreased of 0.9 percentage points
from November and showed decline by 3.2 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate reached 5.4%. It increased by 0.2 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.
Employment Trends
Total employment in December 2024 was 13,720, showing a steady decrease of 210. versus December, employment levels contracted by 590, experiencing pressure.
Scroll down to explore more data
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 strong correlation (0.84) between regional and local employment levels indicates very similar employment patterns at both geographic levels. This suggests that local employment closely follows regional trends.
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.87) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of -0.55 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
.
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
.
Scroll down to explore the data
Local area
Employment Trends
Total employment in December 2024 was 13,720, showing a steady decrease of 210. versus December, employment levels contracted by 590, experiencing pressure.
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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
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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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Local area
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.87) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Local area
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of -0.55 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.
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, 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%).
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
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%).
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 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.
©
2025