The 2024 BC Labour Market Outlook Report is a window into the future of our province’s workforce. The comprehensive report, covering 2024-2034, offers insights into the demand for future labour and where opportunities will arise.
The BC Labour Market Outlook Report isn’t just a resource for students or job seekers planning their next steps. It’s also an essential tool for educators, parents, entrepreneurs, researchers, employers, industry leaders, government, and communities, all of whom play a role in shaping the future of BC’s economy.
BCIT is at the forefront of connecting education, industry, and government to develop an agile and meaningful workforce. We’re prepared to help you leverage these insights and provide the training you need to thrive in the job market.
Here are our top takeaways from this year’s report:
1) A balanced future labour market with over one million job openings in BC
Employment in BC is expected to grow at an annual average of 1.4%, with 3.3 million people employed in BC by 2034. Over the next decade (2024-2034), there are 1.12 million job openings expected in BC. This is an increase of 122,000 compared to the 2023 Outlook.
While a balanced future labour market is expected – the number of job seekers will mirror the number of job openings – there may still be too few job seekers for certain occupations, and some may not have the skills that employers need.
As the only BC post-secondary with a provincial mandate for strategic workforce development, BCIT is ready to provide employers with greater and faster access to in-demand talent and industry services.
2) 40% of job openings will be created through expansion
With BC’s population aging over the next decade, about 60% (671,000) of the anticipated job openings will be to replace workers retiring and leaving the workforce. Meanwhile, the remaining 40% (449,000) of job openings will be created through economic growth.
Whether you’re entering post-secondary education for the first time or seeking to advance your career with in-demand skills, the anticipated growth in the labour market is a timely opportunity to align training opportunities that best suit your career and personal goals.
3) 76% of job openings will require post-secondary training
It is forecasted that 76% (847,200) of job openings in BC will require some level of post-secondary education or training, or experience in management or supervision. More specifically, 21% (237,900) will require college or apprenticeship education of two or more years, and 17% will require a college or apprenticeship of less than two years (191,700).
BCIT students gain real-world industry experience and valuable networks before they graduate. From a 90% employment rate for diploma and certificate graduates to a 96% employment rate for degree graduates, the high employment rate of BCIT graduates speaks volumes.
4) Five industries to generate more than half of all job openings
- Healthcare and social assistance
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Educational
As one of BC’s largest post-secondary institutes, BCIT offers more than 300 programs across a wide range of sectors, including business and media, computing and IT, engineering, health sciences, trades and apprenticeships, and applied and natural sciences.
The BCIT curriculum is developed in close collaboration with industry partners and is taught by instructors who bring real-world experience to the classroom. This approach ensures that students acquire the technical expertise and hands-on experience required to innovate and capitalize on growth opportunities in their chosen fields.
5) Five occupational groups will account for nearly 80% of job openings
- Sales and service
- Business, finance, and administration
- Trades, transport, and equipment operators, and related
- Education, law and social, community, and government services
- Natural and applied sciences and related
BCIT offers a wide selection of certificate, diploma, and degree programs in a variety of paces and formats that prepare you with the hands-on and relevant skills for an in-demand job. BCIT Flexible Learning offers more than 1,000 courses with options during the day, in the evening, or a bit of both. BCIT also offers the largest selection of Flexible Learning IT (information technology) courses in BC.
6) The need for growth in labour productivity
Labour productivity is typically expressed by the output generated per hour of work. Increased productivity ultimately leads to efficiency. However, growth in Canadian labour productivity has been slowing since the turn of the millennium, with an even more noticeable decline following the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of this slowdown has been attributed to the lack of innovation, limited technological advancements, and weak investment throughout the Canadian economy.
One way to support growth in labour productivity is ensuring workers have access to in-demand skills training and reskilling opportunities, such as through the industry-focused microcredentials and diverse customized corporate training services offered at BCIT.
7) Continuous monitoring of the impact of AI on the labour market
While the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has rattled how we work and learn, the impact on the labour market is still inconclusive. The BC Labour Market Outlook report suggests continuous monitoring of the impact of AI on the labour market.
Everything we’re hearing from our industry partners is that AI is here to stay and BCIT is uniquely positioned to help industry harness the promise of that technology responsibly, effectively, and ethically. The new Master of Science in Applied Computing program will equip industry professionals or those who recently graduated with an undergraduate degree with collaborative opportunities to work on applied computing projects with a multidisciplinary team of BCIT researchers and faculty experts, such as Dr. Aaron Hunter, Mastercard Chair in Digital Trust. Whatever the next digital leap, BCIT graduates are job-ready with the knowledge and vision to lead the future of technology – in ways that make a societal impact.
8) BC leads in problem solving skills
In an international survey that examined competency in essential soft skills for adults, BC ranked fifth in adaptive problem solving among participating regions.
Soft skills are fundamental in securing employment. Recognizing this, BCIT offers work-integrated learning opportunities that enable students to enhance their technical skills while also cultivating soft skills in real-world work environments with industry professionals and peers.
Access to skilled talent and in-demand jobs
For over 60 years, BCIT has equipped students for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow, while supporting industry and government in building a workforce where everyone can thrive and grow. Learn more about how BCIT can be a part of your journey in getting the skills needed for an in-demand career or the solution to providing you with quicker access to skilled talent.
Quick facts about BCIT:
- The largest trades training provider in Western Canada, with programs in construction, mechanical, and transportation trades.
- The largest provider of computing and IT diploma grads in BC.
- One of the largest business and media schools in Western Canada.
- The only post-secondary in Western Canada to offer:
- Bachelor of Engineering in Mining and Mineral Resource Engineering, Master of Engineering in Building Science, and Master of Applied Science in Building Engineering/Building Science.
- Clinical Genetics, Cardiovascular Perfusion, Electroneurophysiology, and Prosthetics and Orthotics programs in Western Canada.
Note to media: BCIT experts are available to comment on the state of the workforce. To schedule an interview with a spokesperson, please contact Amy Chen, 778-384-7245 or Jocelyne Leszczynski, 604-250-9251.