Kootenay Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment remained unchanged from the previous month and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 400 people from the previous month and decreased by 100 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 400 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment remained unchanged from last month and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 400 people from the previous month and decreased by 100 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2.7 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 400 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,600 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 12,300 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 5,900 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 : 14,600 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 13,700 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 8,300 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

  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Construction : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 12.84 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,300 workers ( decreased by 27.08 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 4.29 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 6.85 %).

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 6,100 workers ( decreased by 63.54 %).
  • Construction : Change of 4,400 workers ( increased by 55.7 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 3,400 workers ( increased by 30.36 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 3,100 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 2,700 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: Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment stands at 15,740 in April 2025, it expanded by 260 jobs from March and grew by 710 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 63.2%. It rose of 1.0 percentage points from March and rose by 1.9 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 6.4%. It showed decline by 0.0 percentage points month-over-month, and grew by 1.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in April 2025 was 15,740, showing a modest increase of 260. from April, employment levels rose by 710, indicating growth.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 63.2% in April 2025. This represents a rise of 1.0 percentage points from March (62.2%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.9 percentage points from 61.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.4% in April 2025, down 0.0 percentage points from March. Compared to April last year (5.3%), the rate has increased by 1.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.33) 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 (-0.23) 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 0.35 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 April 2025 was 15,740, showing a modest increase of 260. from April, employment levels rose by 710, indicating growth.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 63.2% in April 2025. This represents a rise of 1.0 percentage points from March (62.2%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.9 percentage points from 61.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.4% in April 2025, down 0.0 percentage points from March. Compared to April last year (5.3%), the rate has increased by 1.1 percentage points.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.35 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 June, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 400 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment remained unchanged from last month and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 400 people from the previous month and decreased by 100 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2.7 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 400 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,600 jobs .

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 12,300 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 5,900 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 : 14,600 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 13,700 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 8,300 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 June, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Construction : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 12.84 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,300 workers ( decreased by 27.08 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 4.29 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 6.85 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 6,100 workers ( decreased by 63.54 %).
  • Construction : Change of 4,400 workers ( increased by 55.7 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 3,400 workers ( increased by 30.36 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 3,100 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 2,700 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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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 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, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 74 small areas in British Columbia, Cranbrook ranks 8th with an employment rate of 63.2%. The provincial range is 39.8% to 78.5%, with half of areas between 50.3% and 60.5% (median: 53.9%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 74 small areas in British Columbia, Cranbrook ranks 9th with an unemployment rate of 6.4%. The provincial range is 4.0% to 21.3%, with half of areas between 6.7% and 10.9% (median: 7.8%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 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.