Thompson-Okanagan Economic Region
Workforce Insights
Key Insights
Employment
decreased by
5,500
jobs from the previous month and
increased by
3,100
jobs compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment
decreased by
2,400
jobs from the previous month and
increased by
9,700
jobs year-over-year.
Part-time Employment
decreased by
3,300
jobs from the previous month and
decreased by
6,700
jobs year-over-year.
Unemployment
increased by
1,200
people from the previous month and
decreased by
800
compared to the same month last year.
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
decreased by
2,400
jobs from last month and
increased by
9,700
jobs compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
decreased by
3,300
jobs from last month and
decreased by
6,700
jobs year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
increased by
1,200
from the previous month and
decreased by
800
compared to last year.
Scroll down to explore the data
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
decreased by
0.7
percentage points year-over-year.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by
0.3
percentage points from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
decreased by
1
percentage points year-over-year.
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
decreased by
5,500
jobs in the most recent month and
increased by
3,100
jobs compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, there was a net
decreased by
5,500
jobs.
Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net
increased by
3,100
jobs in total.
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
36,400
workers.
Manufacturing
:
25,200
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
11,500
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
:
49,400
workers.
Wholesale and retail trade
:
35,000
workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services
:
22,700
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
4,700
workers (
decreased by
8.69
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
1,900
workers (
increased by
13.01
%).
Utilities
: Change of
1,700
workers (
increased by
Inf
%).
Educational services
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
8.98
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
7.39
%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
12,600
workers (
decreased by
26.47
%).
Construction
: Change of
10,600
workers (
increased by
41.09
%).
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
8,200
workers (
increased by
19.9
%).
Educational services
: Change of
7,600
workers (
decreased by
33.33
%).
Other services (except public administration)
: Change of
7,000
workers (
decreased by
37.23
%).
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, 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 stands at 119,500 in December 2024, it increased by 1,900 jobs from November and showed an uptick of 7,820 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate stands at 59.1%. It grew of 0.8 percentage points
from November and showed growth by 2.0 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate is 5.8%. It increased 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 modest increase of 1,900. compared to December, employment levels increased by 7,820, maintaining momentum.
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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 moderate correlation (0.41) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.23) 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. compared to December, employment levels increased by 7,820, maintaining momentum.
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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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Local area
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.23) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.
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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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Economic region
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
decreased by
2,400
jobs from last month and
increased by
9,700
jobs compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
decreased by
3,300
jobs from last month and
decreased by
6,700
jobs year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
increased by
1,200
from the previous month and
decreased by
800
compared to last year.
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Economic region
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
decreased by
0.7
percentage points year-over-year.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by
0.3
percentage points from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
decreased by
1
percentage points year-over-year.
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Economic region
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
decreased by
5,500
jobs in the most recent month and
increased by
3,100
jobs compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, there was a net
decreased by
5,500
jobs.
Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net
increased by
3,100
jobs in total.
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Economic region
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
36,400
workers.
Manufacturing
:
25,200
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
11,500
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
:
49,400
workers.
Wholesale and retail trade
:
35,000
workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services
:
22,700
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
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
4,700
workers (
decreased by
8.69
%).
Information, culture and recreation
: Change of
1,900
workers (
increased by
13.01
%).
Utilities
: Change of
1,700
workers (
increased by
Inf
%).
Educational services
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
8.98
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
1,500
workers (
decreased by
7.39
%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Loading...
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
12,600
workers (
decreased by
26.47
%).
Construction
: Change of
10,600
workers (
increased by
41.09
%).
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
8,200
workers (
increased by
19.9
%).
Educational services
: Change of
7,600
workers (
decreased by
33.33
%).
Other services (except public administration)
: Change of
7,000
workers (
decreased by
37.23
%).
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: Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.
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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%).
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%).
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