Kootenay Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment remained unchanged from the previous month and decreased by 800 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 300 people from the previous month and decreased by 300 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment remained unchanged from last month and decreased by 800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 300 people from the previous month and decreased by 300 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 700 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,800 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,700 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 6,100 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 3,500 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 : 14,800 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 14,200 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 8,900 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

  • Public administration : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,000 workers ( decreased by 14.71 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 4.88 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 7.23 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 3.65 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 5,600 workers ( decreased by 61.54 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,000 workers ( increased by 37.04 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 3,000 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Construction : Change of 2,600 workers ( increased by 28.57 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 1,800 workers ( decreased by 50 %).

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, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 15,120 in May 2025, it dropped by 620 jobs from April and reduced by 100 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 60.6%. It contracted of 2.6 percentage points from April and declined by 1.4 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate reached 5.6%. It fell by 0.8 percentage points month-over-month, and rose by 0.3 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in May 2025 was 15,120, showing a considerable decrease of 620. in contrast to May, employment levels decreased by 100, experiencing pressure.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 60.6% in May 2025. This represents a decline of 2.6 percentage points from April (63.2%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points from 62.0%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.6% in May 2025, down 0.8 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (5.3%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.42) 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 (-0.35) 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 0.37 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 May 2025 was 15,120, showing a considerable decrease of 620. in contrast to May, employment levels decreased by 100, experiencing pressure.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 60.6% in May 2025. This represents a decline of 2.6 percentage points from April (63.2%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points from 62.0%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.6% in May 2025, down 0.8 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (5.3%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.35) 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 July, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.37 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 July, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment remained unchanged from last month and decreased by 800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 300 people from the previous month and decreased by 300 people compared to last year.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 700 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,800 jobs .

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,700 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 6,100 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 3,500 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 : 14,800 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 14,200 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 8,900 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 July, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Public administration : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,000 workers ( decreased by 14.71 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 4.88 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 7.23 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 3.65 %).

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 5,600 workers ( decreased by 61.54 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,000 workers ( increased by 37.04 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 3,000 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Construction : Change of 2,600 workers ( increased by 28.57 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 1,800 workers ( decreased by 50 %).

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 July, 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, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Cranbrook ranks 29th with an employment rate of 60.6%. The provincial range is 40.8% to 71.8%, with half of areas between 52.5% and 62.1% (median: 57.3%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Cranbrook ranks 8th with an unemployment rate of 5.6%. The provincial range is 4.7% to 13.9%, with half of areas between 6.0% and 8.1% (median: 6.8%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025

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.