BC Economy

BC Check-Up 2024 Work

The 2024 BC Check-Up: Work report focuses on labour-market trends across the province and in each of the province’s seven economic development regions. The report finds that BC’s labour market softened on nearly every headline metric, as employment fell between April and September 2024, and was effectively flat on a year-over-year basis. The unemployment rate jumped from 5.5% in September 2023 to 6.0% in September 2024, and the job vacancy rate retreated to a seven-year low as of July 2024. Meanwhile, population growth continued to accelerate as the province added 156,700 (+3.4%) working-age residents during the year.

BC Check-Up 2024 Live

The 2024 BC Check-Up Live report focuses on affordability and demographic trends amid record population growth . The report finds that BC added more than 162,000 residents between July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023, coming entirely from international migration. In the housing market, higher interest rates kept home prices below the March 2022 peak, but prices have stabilized over the past year. Still, housing affordability remains one of the biggest challenges in the province. Results from CPABC’s member survey showed that 61% of respondents expected housing affordability to worsen in their region in 2024.

BC Check-Up Invest

The 2024 BC Check-Up Invest report focuses on investment trends across the province and in each of the province’s seven development regions. The report highlights that housing starts reached a record high in 2023, but other indicators showed mixed results amid higher interest rates. Weak economic growth is expected for 2024, with GDP per person forecasted to fall for the second consecutive year. Major project activity is also expected to decline in the coming years, as many large natural resource projects approach completion. Meanwhile, the provincial government announced its largest capital spending package ever in the 2024/25 budget.

BC Economy

BC Check-Up 2024 Work

Press Release

BC Check-Up 2024 Live

Press Release

BC Check-Up Invest

Press Release

BC Check-Up Archive

2024 Canadian holiday outlook

Is BC’s Economy Heading for a Soft Landing?

CPABC: BC Labour market has cooled significantly since April 2024

BC's tipping point

BC Check-Up: Investment climate shows strength in housing construction, but challenges in economic growth and major projects

Investing in BC

What are the benefits of BC’s Pay Transparency Act?

Work in BC

Life in BC - Immigration driving growth as housing crisis persists

CPABC: BC’s population growth surges in 2022 as international migration picks up

How can BC focus on policies that boost economic outlook?

Economic update: Inflation slowing, BC labour market strong, and forestry industry struggles

CPABC: Building investment strong in 2022, but high inflation and interest rates weaken outlook

Economic update: Inflation slowing but remains high; BC adds more jobs

A look at the federal underused housing tax

Economic update: Interest rates may have peaked as inflation begins to slow

Holiday spending up this season, though inflation weighing: PwC Report

Despite economic challenges, BC facing record labour shortages

Employee benefits inflation projection for 2023

Economic update – BC’s labour market remains strong, but rising interest rates and housing costs cause challenges

The Cullen Commission: What's next?

Work in BC

Work-life balance preferred over big salaries, CPAs say

Economic update: Inflation, interest rates, and weakening employment challenge BC’s recovery

What do the recent interest rate hikes mean for Canadians?

CPABC: B.C. housing shortage creates affordability crunch

The high cost of living in British Columbia

Uneven BC economic recovery: Price escalation, robust labour market

CPABC: BC's population growth continued to slow into 2021, housing prices a major deterrent

BC springs forward with strong economy, but inflationary and labour supply pressures loom

BC Check-Up: Invest

Greater Victoria starts 2022 off with low unemployment, but high job vacancies

Kicking off 2022 with record employment and job vacancies in the Thompson-Okanagan

BC ended 2021 with robust labour market, but employment growth lags population gains

BC employment continues to exceed pre-pandemic levels, exports reach record highs

PwC forecasts holiday spending to be up a third this year

Employee benefits inflation update for 2022

Work in British Columbia

Employment gains over past year pushes BC workforce above pre-pandemic levels

CPABC: B.C.’s labour market tightening as workforce up over 150,000 positions since September 2020

CPABC's 2022-2023 Budget Submission: A focus on tax modernization to encourage economic resurgence

CPABC: With limited fiscal room, B.C. government should focus on tax modernization to spur growth

Life in British Columbia

PwC CEO Survey: Despite economic optimism, investment in employees and workplaces is critical

BC’s population growth slowed in 2020 while inadequate housing supply pushing prices higher

BC suffers job losses due to circuit breaker, but economy is still expected to resurge this year

Where does BC’s economy stand a year after the pandemic shut down our status quo?

CPABC: B.C.’s Budget 2021 Focused on Economic and Healthcare Supports

Ambitious 2021 federal budget offers $101 billion in new spending over coming years

Strong major project activity in Southwest B.C. may spark economic rebound

BC economy continues to recover in February, but challenges remain

Greater Victoria business activity and housing starts take a hit in 2020, but major investments should boost recovery

CPA profession appears at Cullen Commission into money laundering

Canadian economy hitting some bumps on road to recovery

Southwest B.C.’s employment recovering, but nearly 70,000 workers remain displaced

Thompson-Okanagan’s goods sector leading economic recovery

The fight continues

2020 is the year of working (out) from home

Why scaling up BC tech companies is critical to BC’s economy

COVID-19 employment disruption remains concentrated amongst B.C.’s youth

BC Check-Up: Work

CPABC: Despite recent gains, COVID-19 continues to displace over 100,000 workers across B.C.

At 12.3 per cent, Southwest B.C.’s summer unemployment rate highest in B.C.

BC continues strong job growth and recovery in consumer spending in September

The new retail experience: How COVID-19 rapidly accelerated the shift in customer demands

July data sees BC’s economic recovery continue, but recent COVID-19 outbreaks pose threat

BC’s road to recovery: Supporting displaced workers

June economic data: BC continues recovery from COVID-19

Federal deficit to hit $343 billion from COVID-19 economic fallout

CPABC: Bolstering B.C. business productivity key to economic recovery

Worst appears to be behind us with encouraging May economic data on BC’s COVID-19 recovery

BC’s economy: Full impact of COVID-19 still unknown as economy prepares to reopen