Kootenay Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 3,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 3,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 200 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 100 people from the previous month and decreased by 1,100 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 3,900 jobs from last month and increased by 2,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 200 jobs from last month and increased by 200 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 100 people from the previous month and decreased by 1,100 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 3,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 3,700 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,100 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,900 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 5,700 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 4,500 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 : 16,000 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 14,800 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 10,100 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

  • Educational services : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 27.59 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 1,200 workers ( increased by 8.11 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,200 workers ( increased by 13.48 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,000 workers ( increased by 28.57 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 45 %).

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 4,500 workers ( increased by 39.13 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 3,700 workers ( decreased by 45.12 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,200 workers ( increased by 36.78 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 3,100 workers ( increased by 44.29 %).
  • 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

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. 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 reached 6,790 in June 2025, it gained 100 jobs from May and showed an uptick of 300 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 52.3%. It increased of 0.7 percentage points from May and increased by 1.4 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 6.0%. It decreased by 2.5 percentage points month-over-month, and declined by 3.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in June 2025 was 6,790, showing a measured increase of 100. against June, employment levels increased by 300, demonstrating resilience.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 52.3% in June 2025. This represents a rise of 0.7 percentage points from May (51.6%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.4 percentage points from 50.9%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in June 2025, down 2.5 percentage points from May. Compared to June last year (9.6%), the rate has decreased by 3.6 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.73) 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 (0.73) 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 -0.23 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 June 2025 was 6,790, showing a measured increase of 100. against June, employment levels increased by 300, demonstrating resilience.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 52.3% in June 2025. This represents a rise of 0.7 percentage points from May (51.6%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.4 percentage points from 50.9%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in June 2025, down 2.5 percentage points from May. Compared to June last year (9.6%), the rate has decreased by 3.6 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.73) 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 August, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.23 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 August, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 3,900 jobs from last month and increased by 2,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 200 jobs from last month and increased by 200 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 100 people from the previous month and decreased by 1,100 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 3,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 3,700 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,100 jobs .

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,900 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 5,700 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 4,500 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 : 16,000 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 14,800 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 10,100 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 August, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Educational services : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 27.59 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 1,200 workers ( increased by 8.11 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,200 workers ( increased by 13.48 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,000 workers ( increased by 28.57 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 45 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,500 workers ( increased by 39.13 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 3,700 workers ( decreased by 45.12 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,200 workers ( increased by 36.78 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 3,100 workers ( increased by 44.29 %).
  • 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 August, 2025
Economic region

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. 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 August, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Creston ranks 66th with an employment rate of 52.3%. The provincial range is 40.9% to 73.6%, with half of areas between 53.4% and 63.2% (median: 58.7%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Creston ranks 42nd with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. The provincial range is 4.7% to 7.7%, with half of areas between 5.5% and 6.5% (median: 6.0%).

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