Thompson-Okanagan Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 2,700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 5,600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 12,300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 3,000 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 18,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 1,200 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 5,600 jobs from last month and increased by 12,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 3,000 jobs from last month and decreased by 18,000 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,200 from the previous month and increased by 2,000 compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.1 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,700 jobs in the most recent month and decreased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 2,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net decreased by 5,600 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 38,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 21,100 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 9,300 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 : 43,900 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 38,100 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : 22,000 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

  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 2,800 workers ( increased by 25.69 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 2,600 workers ( decreased by 10.97 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 2,000 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 4.96 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 11.84 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 7,500 workers ( increased by 60 %).
  • Construction : Change of 7,300 workers ( increased by 23.7 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 6,800 workers ( decreased by 28.57 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 6,300 workers ( decreased by 14.19 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 6,200 workers ( increased by 65.96 %).

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

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 119,500 in December 2024, it rose by 1,900 jobs from November and showed an uptick of 7,820 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 59.1%. It grew of 0.8 percentage points from November and rose by 2.0 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 5.8%. It expanded by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and rose by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 119,500, showing a steady increase of 1,900. in contrast to December, employment levels gained 7,820, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.1% in December 2024. This represents a rise of 0.8 percentage points from November (58.3%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 2.0 percentage points from 57.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.8% in December 2024, up 0.5 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.0%), the rate has increased by 0.8 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.19) 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 weak correlation (0.07) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.34 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Kelowna consists of the following communities: Kelowna, Central Okanagan, Lake Country, Peachland, Central Okanagan West, West Kelowna, Duck Lake 7, Tsinstikeptum 9, Tsinstikeptum 10 .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

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

Kelowna consists of the following communities: Kelowna, Central Okanagan, Lake Country, Peachland, Central Okanagan West, West Kelowna, Duck Lake 7, Tsinstikeptum 9, Tsinstikeptum 10 .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 119,500, showing a steady increase of 1,900. in contrast to December, employment levels gained 7,820, showing strength.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.1% in December 2024. This represents a rise of 0.8 percentage points from November (58.3%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 2.0 percentage points from 57.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.8% in December 2024, up 0.5 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.0%), the rate has increased by 0.8 percentage points.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.07) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.34 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 5,600 jobs from last month and increased by 12,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 3,000 jobs from last month and decreased by 18,000 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,200 from the previous month and increased by 2,000 compared to last year.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.1 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,700 jobs in the most recent month and decreased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 2,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net decreased by 5,600 jobs in total.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 38,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 21,100 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 9,300 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 : 43,900 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 38,100 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : 22,000 workers.

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 2,800 workers ( increased by 25.69 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 2,600 workers ( decreased by 10.97 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 2,000 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 4.96 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 11.84 %).

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 7,500 workers ( increased by 60 %).
  • Construction : Change of 7,300 workers ( increased by 23.7 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 6,800 workers ( decreased by 28.57 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 6,300 workers ( decreased by 14.19 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 6,200 workers ( increased by 65.96 %).

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2025
Economic region

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Kelowna ranks 10th with an employment rate of 59.1%. 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 April, 2025

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Kelowna ranks 37th with an unemployment rate of 5.8%. 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 April, 2025

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Thompson-Okanagan 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.