A new BC Stats report released this week confirms British Columbia's technology sector remains a top provincial performer, making a significant contribution to the provincial economy, providing high paying jobs for citizens and spurring economic growth in the province.

• The number of tech jobs has increased in each of the past three years, with employment in British Columbia's technology sector continuing to climb in 2013, rising 1.4% to 86,800.
• The tech sector employs approximately 4.4% of B.C.'s work force.
• There was a net addition of 728 technology businesses in B.C. (8.1% increase), accounting for a greater single-year increase than the previous five years combined.
• In total, there were 9,738 tech businesses with employees in 2013.
• Wages and salaries also continued to rise, climbing 1.7% in 2013, to almost $6.3 billion, the highest level ever recorded.
• Average weekly earnings continued to be far higher than overall B.C. average.
• In addition, British Columbia's international shipping of tech goods climbed 3.7% to over $1 billion, the first time this milestone has ever been reached.
• B.C. held 29% of the total venture capital investment in Canada, outpaced only by Ontario.
• Revenues in British Columbia's technology sector continued to increase, climbing 5.2% to $23.3 billion.
• All industry groups experienced revenue growth, with software publishing and the manufacturing sector leading the way.
• In the manufacturing sector, tech GDP experienced robust growth of 8.8%, to almost $1.6 billion.

Learn More:

Profile of the British Columbia High Technology Sector: 2014 Edition: http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/BusinessIndustry/HighTechnology.aspx

Contact:

Joanne Whittier
Communications Manager
Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services
250 387-0172