Thompson-Okanagan Economic Region Workforce Insights

February, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 5,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 17,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 3,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 1,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 9,200 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 1,300 people from the previous month and increased by 4,000 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 3,900 jobs from last month and increased by 8,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 1,200 jobs from last month and increased by 9,200 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,300 people from the previous month and increased by 4,000 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 3.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 5,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 17,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 5,100 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 17,400 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 35,000 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 16,700 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 10,200 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 88.8% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 53,000 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 47,700 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 26,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 52.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 3,200 workers (decreased by 6.29%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 12.11%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 3.31%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,400 workers (increased by 11.29%).
  • Public administration: Change of 1,300 workers (decreased by 9.15%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 12,700 workers (increased by 36.29%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 8,500 workers (decreased by 33.73%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 4,000 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 3,800 workers (increased by 20.21%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 3,700 workers (increased by 25.52%).

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, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Local Workforce Insights

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Vernon SLA consists of the following communities: Coldstream, Vernon, North Okanagan B, North Okanagan C, Okanagan (Part) 1, Priest's Valley 6.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment reached 35,600 in December 2025, it grew by 260 jobs from November and rose by 1,470 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 55.9%. It rose by 0.4 percentage points from November and grew by 1.7 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate reached 5.1%. It fell by 1.5 percentage points month-over-month, and grew by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 35,600, showing a modest increase of 260 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels rose by 1,470, maintaining momentum.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 55.9% in December 2025. This represents a rise of 0.4 percentage points from November (55.5%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.7 percentage points from 54.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.1% in December 2025, down 1.5 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.0%), the rate has increased by 0.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.93) 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 (0.91) 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 0.02 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Vernon SLA consists of the following communities: Coldstream, Vernon, North Okanagan B, North Okanagan C, Okanagan (Part) 1, Priest's Valley 6.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level

Vernon SLA consists of the following communities: Coldstream, Vernon, North Okanagan B, North Okanagan C, Okanagan (Part) 1, Priest's Valley 6.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 35,600, showing a modest increase of 260 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels rose by 1,470, maintaining momentum.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 55.9% in December 2025. This represents a rise of 0.4 percentage points from November (55.5%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.7 percentage points from 54.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.1% in December 2025, down 1.5 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.0%), the rate has increased by 0.1 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.91) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.02 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 3,900 jobs from last month and increased by 8,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 1,200 jobs from last month and increased by 9,200 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,300 people from the previous month and increased by 4,000 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 3.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 5,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 17,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 5,100 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 17,400 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 35,000 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 16,700 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 10,200 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 88.8% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 53,000 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 47,700 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 26,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 52.4% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 3,200 workers (decreased by 6.29%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 12.11%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 3.31%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,400 workers (increased by 11.29%).
  • Public administration: Change of 1,300 workers (decreased by 9.15%).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 12,700 workers (increased by 36.29%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 8,500 workers (decreased by 33.73%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 4,000 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 3,800 workers (increased by 20.21%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 3,700 workers (increased by 25.52%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
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, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Vernon ranks 39th with an employment rate of 55.9%. The provincial range is 44.9% to 67.7%, with half of areas between 51.5% and 58.8% (median: 55.4%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Vernon ranks 3rd with an unemployment rate of 5.1%. The provincial range is 3.7% to 13.2%, with half of areas between 6.2% and 8.8% (median: 7.2%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

No data found.

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (geography)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization size)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization type)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by business size

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by organization type

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by geography

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (geography)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization size)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization type)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by business size

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by organization type

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by geography

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions