Thompson-Okanagan Economic Region
Workforce Insights
Key Insights
Employment
decreased by
5,100
jobs from the previous month and
decreased by
1,900
jobs compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment
decreased by
2,300
jobs from the previous month and
increased by
11,600
jobs year-over-year.
Part-time Employment
decreased by
2,700
jobs from the previous month and
decreased by
13,500
jobs year-over-year.
Unemployment
increased by
1,100
people from the previous month and
decreased by
1,900
compared to the same month last year.
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
decreased by
2,300
jobs from last month and
increased by
11,600
jobs compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
decreased by
2,700
jobs from last month and
decreased by
13,500
jobs year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
increased by
1,100
from the previous month and
decreased by
1,900
compared to last year.
Scroll down to explore the data
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
decreased by
1.6
percentage points year-over-year.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by
0.6
percentage points from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
decreased by
2
percentage points year-over-year.
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
decreased by
5,100
jobs in the most recent month and
decreased by
1,900
jobs compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, there was a net
decreased by
5,100
jobs.
Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net
decreased by
1,900
jobs in total.
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
38,100
workers.
Manufacturing
:
23,700
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
10,600
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
:
45,000
workers.
Wholesale and retail trade
:
36,300
workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services
:
21,900
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
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
4,400
workers (
decreased by
8.91
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
2,000
workers (
increased by
12.12
%).
Utilities
: Change of
1,700
workers (
decreased by
100
%).
Construction
: Change of
1,700
workers (
increased by
4.67
%).
Manufacturing
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
5.95
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
7.98
%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Construction
: Change of
10,400
workers (
increased by
37.55
%).
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
9,900
workers (
decreased by
21.43
%).
Educational services
: Change of
9,000
workers (
decreased by
37.19
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
8,400
workers (
increased by
83.17
%).
Public administration
: Change of
7,300
workers (
increased by
80.22
%).
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 registered 119,500 in December 2024, it gained 1,900 jobs from November and rose by 7,820 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate stands at 59.1%. It grew of 0.8 percentage points
from November and increased by 2.0 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate reached 5.8%. It rose by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and showed growth by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.
Employment Trends
Total employment in December 2024 was 119,500, showing a modest increase of 1,900. relative to December, employment levels increased by 7,820, demonstrating resilience.
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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 (0.18) 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 (0.13) 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 0.40 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
.
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
.
Scroll down to explore the data
Local area
Employment Trends
Total employment in December 2024 was 119,500, showing a modest increase of 1,900. relative to December, employment levels increased by 7,820, demonstrating resilience.
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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 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 March, 2025
Local area
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.13) 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 March, 2025
Local area
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of 0.40 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 March, 2025
Economic region
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
decreased by
2,300
jobs from last month and
increased by
11,600
jobs compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
decreased by
2,700
jobs from last month and
decreased by
13,500
jobs year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
increased by
1,100
from the previous month and
decreased by
1,900
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
1.6
percentage points year-over-year.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by
0.6
percentage points from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
decreased by
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
5,100
jobs in the most recent month and
decreased by
1,900
jobs compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, there was a net
decreased by
5,100
jobs.
Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net
decreased by
1,900
jobs in total.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2025
Economic region
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
38,100
workers.
Manufacturing
:
23,700
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
10,600
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
:
45,000
workers.
Wholesale and retail trade
:
36,300
workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services
:
21,900
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
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
4,400
workers (
decreased by
8.91
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
2,000
workers (
increased by
12.12
%).
Utilities
: Change of
1,700
workers (
decreased by
100
%).
Construction
: Change of
1,700
workers (
increased by
4.67
%).
Manufacturing
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
5.95
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
7.98
%).
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
Construction
: Change of
10,400
workers (
increased by
37.55
%).
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
9,900
workers (
decreased by
21.43
%).
Educational services
: Change of
9,000
workers (
decreased by
37.19
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
8,400
workers (
increased by
83.17
%).
Public administration
: Change of
7,300
workers (
increased by
80.22
%).
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
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.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 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 March, 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 March, 2025
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.
©
2025