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.

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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 .

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.