Labour market projections contained in the British Columbia Labour Market Outlook indicate there will be more than one million job openings in B.C. over the next decade. The updated data also provides a strong foundation for ensuring that skills training decisions made through the BC Jobs Plan and B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint are aligned with the needs of B.C.’s labour market and key sectors of our growing economy, including liquefied natural gas.
According to the Outlook, job openings are driven by a combination of trends – 68 per cent of job openings are expected due to retirements, and the remaining 32 per cent as a result of economic growth. Retirements are driving job openings across all occupations while economic growth is boosting openings in occupations like skilled trades.
This year, with anticipated investment and activity related to B.C.’s LNG sector, a supplementary analysis from the 2014 British Columbia LNG Workforce Occupation Forecast has been added to the Outlook to provide additional context on the labour requirements of LNG development through 2023.
Quick Facts: From 2012 to 2022, 985,100 job openings are expected in the B.C. labour market. A scenario with five LNG plants operating in B.C. would add an additional 100,000 jobs by 2023.
More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of the forecasted job openings will require post-secondary education and training, and 44 per cent will require a college diploma or trade certificate.
B.C.’s three largest regions by population- Mainland/Southwest, Vancouver Island/Coast and Thompson Okanagan – are expected to account for 90 per cent of job openings between now and 2022.
The Northeast, North Coast and Nechako regions, while more sparsely populated, are expected to have the highest annual demand growth based on new economic activity.
