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 6,070 in April 2025, it expanded by 140 jobs from March and dropped by 210 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 46.8%. It grew of 1.0 percentage points from March and declined by 2.6 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 11.6%. It contracted by 0.0 percentage points month-over-month, and showed growth by 2.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in April 2025 was 6,070, showing a significant increase of 140. versus April, employment levels showed a decline of 210, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 46.8% in April 2025. This represents a rise of 1.0 percentage points from March (45.8%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points from 49.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 11.6% in April 2025, down 0.0 percentage points from March. Compared to April last year (9.0%), the rate has increased by 2.6 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.94) between regional and local employment levels indicates very similar employment patterns at both geographic levels. This suggests that local employment closely follows regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.95) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.08 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Creston consists of the following communities: Creston, Central Kootenay A, Central Kootenay B, Central Kootenay C, Creston 1 .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

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

Creston consists of the following communities: Creston, Central Kootenay A, Central Kootenay B, Central Kootenay C, Creston 1 .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in April 2025 was 6,070, showing a significant increase of 140. versus April, employment levels showed a decline of 210, showing weakness.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 46.8% in April 2025. This represents a rise of 1.0 percentage points from March (45.8%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points from 49.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 11.6% in April 2025, down 0.0 percentage points from March. Compared to April last year (9.0%), the rate has increased by 2.6 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 strong correlation (0.95) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

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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 -0.08 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

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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, Creston ranks 62nd with an employment rate of 46.8%. 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, Creston ranks 60th with an unemployment rate of 11.6%. 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.