A Diverse, Growing Workforce

Opportunities abound in Northeast British Columbia with core industries of employment being construction, retail trade, other private services, food services & drinking places, truck transportation and oil and gas extraction and its supporting services. For many years, the economies of the northeast have been diversifying, from what was for many years primarily resource and agriculture-based economies. Communities in the northeast have now matured to where the top five primary industries by employment represent less than half of the overall jobs in the region.

Boasting consistently low unemployment rates, the Northeast region also boasts the highest full-time employment share (83%) compared to other regions in British Columbia.

The 2016 National Census found that Dawson Creek showed the highest percentage median income growth (32%) of all metropolitan areas in British Columbia when compared to the previous 2011 census.

Because Dawson Creek is centrally located and is serviced by many highways, workers who live in Dawson Creek are able to commute to jobs in other municipalities such as Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, Taylor and Fort St John. Also, the rural population is able to easily travel into Dawson Creek for work.

Labour Market Outlook

Every year, the British Columbia government updates their 10-year labour market projections by region and publishes B.C.’s Labour Market Outlook through WorkBC. Dawson Creek is found in the Northeast region of the province which includes Fort St. John, Chetywnd, Tumbler Ridge, Fort Nelson and all the communities in between. As per the current research, about 1.6 percent of B.C.’s workers live in the Northeast, and when compared to the provincial average, the population in the Northeast is younger. 

Higher Than Provincial Average 10-Year Employment Growth Rate 

The latest predictions in B.C.’s Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029) anticipate that the Northeast employment demand in the region is forecast to increase each year by 2.1 percent on average until 2929, which is much faster than the provincial growth of 1.0 percent.  As per the B.C. Labour Market Outlook, over the 10-year forecast period, a total of 18,000 job openings are anticipated. The three industries anticipated to have the fastest employment growth in the region over the forecast period are Telecommunications, Insurance Carriers and Related Activities, and Rail Transportation.

Major Employers in the Northeast Region

Industries with Most Job Openings: 2019-2029 (Northeast)

Occupations with Most Job Openings: 2019-2029 (Northeast)

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2019 Edition

Dawson Creek Employment Profile

Unemployment Rate Comparison (%)

3-month moving average, seasonally unadjusted:

Average / Median Income

Source: Statistics Canada

Occupation – National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016

Source: Statistics Canada 2016 Census