The fifth edition of the British Columbia Labour Market Outlook (Outlook) is now available on WorkBC.ca.

Labour market demand and supply are influenced by a combination of trends and they change from year to year. The Outlook provides the most current data available on the kinds of jobs and skills that will be in demand throughout B.C. between now and 2025. The new report also provides detail on projected job openings in key occupations and industries by region, an updated list of top-opportunity occupations, and the top 10 competencies required for various jobs now and in the future.

The report highlights show stable economic growth in the province. Employment has continued on an upward trend and is now at record highs of over 2.3 million. Employment growth is projected to be 1.2%, consistent with forecasts from the Ministry of Finance and BC Stats. The province was the leader in economic growth in Canada last year and it is positioned to be among Canada’s leaders in economic growth again in 2016 as well as 2017.

Consistent with last year’s Labour Market Outlook, there will be almost one million job openings in B.C. over the next decade, approximately two-thirds due to retirements and one-third due to economic growth. Almost eight out of 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education. Specifically, 36% of the projected jobs will require a bachelor’s, graduate or first professional degree and 42% will require diploma certificates or trades apprenticeship training.

While this report does not include assumptions about future LNG investments, the government continues to work with communities, employers and post-secondary institutions to ensure that, when final investment decisions are made, B.C.’s workforce will be ready.

The 10 major occupational groups are ranked as follows in terms of job openings over the next 10 years:

• Sales and Service
• Business, Finance and Administration
• Management
• Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related
• Education, Law and Social, Community and Government
• Health
• Natural and Applied Sciences and Related
• Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
• Manufacturing and Utilities
• Natural Resources, Agriculture and Related Production

Updated Outlook data can be accessed through WorkBC.ca online tools that include comprehensive career, industry and regional profiles. It is also available on DataBC at: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/labour-market-outlook

Labour market projections contained in the Outlook are based on available labour market data from Statistics Canada and other sources, industry growth and population projections and consultations with employers, industry partners and representatives from key sectors. They are meant to reflect general expected trends over the medium to long term.

The Outlook is a valuable resource for educators, counsellors, students and their families in making decisions regarding education and skills training. It also helps those who are unemployed or underemployed find jobs that are in demand right now. Post-secondary institutions also use this data to ensure their programming aligns with high-demand occupations now and over the next decade.

Through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, the government is re-engineering its education and training system towards a data-driven system, shifting investments and re-aligning programs to focus on jobs that are in demand.

Quick Facts:

• B.C. is expecting almost one million job openings by 2025.
• Two-thirds of B.C.’s job openings will be from retirements and one-third from economic growth.
• Almost 80% of job openings in B.C. will require post-secondary education.
• The B.C. government invests more than $7.8 billion each year in education and training.
• Through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, $3 billion in training investments will be re-directed to in-demand jobs over the next 10 years.
• Thousands of new job openings are expected in every region of British Columbia by 2025:
  • Vancouver Island/Coast: 147,900 job openings
  • Mainland/Southwest: 596,400 job openings
  • North Coast/Nechako/Northeast & Cariboo: 54,600 job openings
  • Southeast: 134,700 job openings 

Learn More:

2025 B.C. Labour Market Outlook: https://www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx

B.C. labour market information: https://www.workbc.ca/Statistics.aspx

Labour market career resources: https://www.workbc.ca/Jobs-Careers/Explore-Careers.aspx

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint.aspx