Kootenay Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 2,700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 2,400 jobs from the previous month and increased by 300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 3,500 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 300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 300 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 700 from the previous month and decreased by 3,500 compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.8 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 3.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 5.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 2,700 jobs in the most recent month and decreased by 2,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net decreased by 2,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net decreased by 2,800 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 9,100 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 8,500 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 8,000 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 : 13,400 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 11,800 workers.
  • Educational services : 6,500 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

  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,300 workers ( decreased by 9.92 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 7.61 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 6.19 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 6.67 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 21.74 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 13.51 %).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 3,800 workers ( decreased by 22.09 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 3,400 workers ( increased by 73.91 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,300 workers ( increased by 56.9 %).
  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 2,200 workers ( increased by 100 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 2,100 workers ( decreased by 100 %).

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: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment stands at 14,330 in November 2024, it expanded by 140 jobs from October and declined by 870 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 57.5%. It showed growth of 0.5 percentage points from October and fell by 4.9 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate is 5.0%. It showed decline by 0.1 percentage points month-over-month, and fell by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in November 2024 was 14,330, showing a measured increase of 140. against November, employment levels showed a decline of 870, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 57.5% in November 2024. This represents a rise of 0.5 percentage points from October (57.0%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 4.9 percentage points from 62.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.0% in November 2024, down 0.1 percentage points from October. Compared to November last year (5.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.57) 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 moderate correlation (0.63) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.64 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Cranbrook consists of the following communities: Cranbrook, East Kootenay C, Isidore's Ranch 4, Cassimayooks (Mayook) 5 .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.

Cranbrook consists of the following communities: Cranbrook, East Kootenay C, Isidore's Ranch 4, Cassimayooks (Mayook) 5 .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in November 2024 was 14,330, showing a measured increase of 140. against November, employment levels showed a decline of 870, showing weakness.

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Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 57.5% in November 2024. This represents a rise of 0.5 percentage points from October (57.0%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 4.9 percentage points from 62.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.0% in November 2024, down 0.1 percentage points from October. Compared to November last year (5.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

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Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.63) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

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Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.64 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 300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 300 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 700 from the previous month and decreased by 3,500 compared to last year.

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Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.8 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 3.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 5.2 percentage points year-over-year.

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Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 2,700 jobs in the most recent month and decreased by 2,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net decreased by 2,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net decreased by 2,800 jobs in total.

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Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 9,100 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 8,500 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 8,000 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 : 13,400 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 11,800 workers.
  • Educational services : 6,500 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

  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,300 workers ( decreased by 9.92 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 7.61 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 6.19 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 6.67 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 21.74 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 13.51 %).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

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Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 3,800 workers ( decreased by 22.09 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 3,400 workers ( increased by 73.91 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,300 workers ( increased by 56.9 %).
  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 2,200 workers ( increased by 100 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 2,100 workers ( decreased by 100 %).

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

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance.

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Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Cranbrook ranks 20th with an employment rate of 57.5%. The provincial range is 23.4% to 67.4%, with half of areas between 37.2% and 56.9% (median: 51.5%).

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in British Columbia, Cranbrook ranks 3rd with an unemployment rate of 5.0%. The provincial range is 3.7% to 13.4%, with half of areas between 5.6% and 7.5% (median: 6.4%).

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Kootenay 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.