Thompson-Okanagan Economic Region
Workforce Insights
Key Insights
Employment
increased by 6,000 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 5,700 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment
increased by 1,700 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 7,300 jobs
year-over-year.
Part-time Employment
increased by 4,300 jobs
from the previous month and
decreased by 1,600 jobs
year-over-year.
Unemployment
decreased by 1,400 people
from the previous month and
decreased by 600 people
compared to the same month last year.
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
increased by 1,700 jobs
from last month and
increased by 7,300 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
increased by 4,300 jobs
from last month and
decreased by 1,600 jobs
year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
decreased by 1,400 people
from the previous month and
decreased by 600 people
compared to last year.
Scroll down to explore the data
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
increased by 0.2 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by 0.2 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
remained unchanged
year-over-year.
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
increased by 6,000 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 5,700 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, employment
increased by 6,000 jobs
.
Over the last year, the labor market has
increased by 5,700 jobs
.
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
34,600
workers.
Manufacturing
:
20,400
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
10,200
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
Wholesale and retail trade
:
46,700
workers.
Health care and social assistance
:
38,500
workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services
:
29,800
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
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
3,400
workers (
increased by
7.85
%).
Professional, scientific and technical services
: Change of
3,400
workers (
increased by
12.88
%).
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
2,200
workers (
decreased by
5.41
%).
Utilities
: Change of
1,500
workers (
increased by
Inf
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
1,400
workers (
increased by
8.33
%).
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
10,300
workers (
decreased by
21.11
%).
Public administration
: Change of
7,000
workers (
increased by
81.4
%).
Professional, scientific and technical services
: Change of
5,700
workers (
increased by
23.65
%).
Construction
: Change of
5,300
workers (
increased by
18.09
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
5,000
workers (
decreased by
21.55
%).
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, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.
Local Workforce Insights
Key Local Labour Market Insights
Total local employment registered 64,550 in May 2025, it expanded by 1,120 jobs from April and increased by 920 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate registered 61.6%. It increased of 1.0 percentage points
from April and showed decline by 0.2 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate stands at 7.4%. It declined by 0.7 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.
Employment Trends
Total employment in May 2025 was 64,550, showing a measured increase of 1,120. in contrast to May, employment levels increased by 920, maintaining momentum.
Scroll down to explore more data
Employment Rate Dynamics
The employment rate reached 61.6% in May 2025. This represents a rise of 1.0 percentage points from April (60.6%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from 61.8%.
Unemployment Rate Trends
The unemployment rate was 7.4% in May 2025, down 0.7 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (5.8%), the rate has increased by 1.6 percentage points.
Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns
The moderate correlation (0.49) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.70) 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 0.76 shows a strong relationship. This reveals synchronized unemployment patterns, indicating that economic challenges affect both geographic levels similarly.
Kamloops
consists of the following communities:
Logan Lake, Thompson-Nicola J (Copper Desert Country), Kamloops, Thompson-Nicola P (Rivers and the Peaks), Sun Peaks Mountain, Chase, Whispering Pines 4, Kamloops 1, Sahhaltkum 4
.
Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment,
and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.
Kamloops
consists of the following communities:
Logan Lake, Thompson-Nicola J (Copper Desert Country), Kamloops, Thompson-Nicola P (Rivers and the Peaks), Sun Peaks Mountain, Chase, Whispering Pines 4, Kamloops 1, Sahhaltkum 4
.
Scroll down to explore the data
Local area
Employment Trends
Total employment in May 2025 was 64,550, showing a measured increase of 1,120. in contrast to May, employment levels increased by 920, maintaining momentum.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Local area
Employment Rate Dynamics
The employment rate reached 61.6% in May 2025. This represents a rise of 1.0 percentage points from April (60.6%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from 61.8%.
Unemployment Rate Trends
The unemployment rate was 7.4% in May 2025, down 0.7 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (5.8%), the rate has increased by 1.6 percentage points.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Local area
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.70) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Local area
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of 0.76 shows a strong relationship. This reveals synchronized unemployment patterns, indicating that economic challenges affect both geographic levels similarly.
Loading...
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 1,700 jobs
from last month and
increased by 7,300 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
increased by 4,300 jobs
from last month and
decreased by 1,600 jobs
year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
decreased by 1,400 people
from the previous month and
decreased by 600 people
compared to last year.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
increased by 0.2 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by 0.2 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
remained unchanged
year-over-year.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
increased by 6,000 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 5,700 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, employment
increased by 6,000 jobs
.
Over the last year, the labor market has
increased by 5,700 jobs
.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Construction
:
34,600
workers.
Manufacturing
:
20,400
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
:
10,200
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
Wholesale and retail trade
:
46,700
workers.
Health care and social assistance
:
38,500
workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services
:
29,800
workers.
In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month
Wholesale and retail trade
: Change of
3,400
workers (
increased by
7.85
%).
Professional, scientific and technical services
: Change of
3,400
workers (
increased by
12.88
%).
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
2,200
workers (
decreased by
5.41
%).
Utilities
: Change of
1,500
workers (
increased by
Inf
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
1,400
workers (
increased by
8.33
%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Health care and social assistance
: Change of
10,300
workers (
decreased by
21.11
%).
Public administration
: Change of
7,000
workers (
increased by
81.4
%).
Professional, scientific and technical services
: Change of
5,700
workers (
increased by
23.65
%).
Construction
: Change of
5,300
workers (
increased by
18.09
%).
Accommodation and food services
: Change of
5,000
workers (
decreased by
21.55
%).
The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Economic region
Conclusion
The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year.
Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 2025
Employment rate Provincial Comparison
Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Kamloops ranks 23rd with an employment rate of 61.6%. 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, Kamloops ranks 50th with an unemployment rate of 7.4%. 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
Thompson-Okanagan 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
Loading...
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
Forecasted employment in the period 2024-2034
Loading...
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
Loading...
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.
