Industry Profiles
Businesses in 2025
Largest Industry by Employment
Largest Industry by Businesses
Most Specialized Industry
Employment by industry
Share of the labour force by industry, Central Okanagan and British Columbia, 2021
Businesses by industry
Businesses with and without employees, December 2025
Change in businesses by industry
Change in the number of businesses, December 2020 to December 2025
Notes
Employment is the labour force aged 15 and over (residents working or looking for work) by the industry of their current or most recent job, wherever they work. Businesses include businesses without employees (self-employed and owner-operated). The Business Counts tab on the Business page has size and trend detail, and the Specialization tab compares each industry with British Columbia.
Industry Specialization
Most Specialized Industry
Industries Above BC Share
Largest Gain Since 2016
Most Specialized Business Type
Employment location quotients
Share of local jobs compared with British Columbia, 2021
Change in employment location quotients
Compared with British Columbia, 2016 and 2021
Most specialized business types
Employer businesses compared with British Columbia, December 2025 (industries with at least 5 local employers)
Specialization and growth
Employment location quotient (2021) against the change in businesses, 2020 to 2025; bubble size is local employment. Industries with fewer than 10 businesses in 2020 are not shown.
Location quotients by industry (table)
Notes
Location quotient
LQ = (local jobs in the industry / all local jobs) / (British Columbia jobs in the industry / all British Columbia jobs). Employment LQs use the Census labour force by industry (place of residence), so a resident who commutes out of the community counts where they live. Shares are of the whole labour force, including people without a recent job.
Business LQs use employer businesses (businesses with at least one employee) from the Business Register, compared with the sum of all communities in British Columbia for the same year. Businesses without employees are left out because registrations of sole proprietors vary widely between places.
The Economic Dependencies page has BC Stats location quotients based on its own model of local jobs.
Construction
Businesses, 2025
Businesses with Employees
Local Labour Force, 2021
Employment LQ vs BC
Local businesses — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Business Register (businesses with and without employees)
Businesses by year
With and without employees, December of each year
Businesses by number of employees
December 2025
Businesses by industry group
Largest 4-digit industries, December 2025
Where the businesses are
Businesses by dissemination area, December 2025
Local workforce — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Census
Share of workers in this industry
Labour force aged 15 and over, 2021
Workers by gender
Local labour force, 2016 and 2021
Occupations in this industry
People working in the community, 2021
Regional outlook — Thompson-Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey; WorkBC, BC Labour Market Outlook; BC Stats, Local Area Economic Dependencies
Employment in Construction
Kelowna census metropolitan area, three-month moving average
Employment outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, Heavy and civil engineering construction; Non-Residential building construction; Residential building construction; Specialty trade contractors
Job openings outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, new jobs (expansion) and replacing retiring workers (replacement)
Occupations with the most job openings
Thompson-Okanagan, 2026–2035
Economic dependencies
Central Okanagan local area, 2020, BC Stats economic sectors that include this industry
British Columbia labour market
Statistics Canada publishes these series for all of British Columbia only.
Payroll employees
23 Construction, monthly
Average hourly earnings
23 Construction, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Average weekly hours
23 Construction, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Job vacancy rate
23 Construction, quarterly, compared with all industries
Average offered hourly wage
23 Construction, wage offered for vacant positions, quarterly
Job vacancies
23 Construction, quarterly
Major projects — Central Okanagan
BC Major Projects Inventory, all projects (every major project is construction work)
Data coverage for this industry. Business Register: 23 Construction, Central Okanagan. Census: 23 Construction. Labour Force Survey: Construction. BC Labour Market Outlook: Heavy and civil engineering construction; Non-Residential building construction; Residential building construction; Specialty trade contractors. Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours: 23 Construction. Job Vacancy and Wage Survey: 23 Construction. Statistics Canada suppresses some detailed industries for confidentiality. When a source does not publish this industry, the tab shows the closest level it does publish and names it.
Notes
Location quotient (LQ) compares the industry's share of local jobs or employer businesses with its share in British Columbia; see the Specialization tab.
Labour Force Survey estimates for census metropolitan areas are three-month moving averages, published for broad industry groups only; months with too few survey responses are not published.
Offered hourly wage is what employers offer for vacant positions; average hourly earnings is what employees paid by the hour earn. They are separate measures.
Health care and social assistance
Businesses, 2025
Businesses with Employees
Local Labour Force, 2021
Employment LQ vs BC
Local businesses — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Business Register (businesses with and without employees)
Businesses by year
With and without employees, December of each year
Businesses by number of employees
December 2025
Businesses by industry group
Largest 4-digit industries, December 2025
Where the businesses are
Businesses by dissemination area, December 2025
Local workforce — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Census
Share of workers in this industry
Labour force aged 15 and over, 2021
Workers by gender
Local labour force, 2016 and 2021
Occupations in this industry
People working in the community, 2021
Regional outlook — Thompson-Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey; WorkBC, BC Labour Market Outlook; BC Stats, Local Area Economic Dependencies
Employment in Health care and social assistance
Kelowna census metropolitan area, three-month moving average
Employment outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, Ambulatory health care services; Child day care services; Hospitals; Nursing and residential care facilities; Social assistance excluding child care
Job openings outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, new jobs (expansion) and replacing retiring workers (replacement)
Occupations with the most job openings
Thompson-Okanagan, 2026–2035
Economic dependencies
Central Okanagan local area, 2020, BC Stats economic sectors that include this industry
British Columbia labour market
Statistics Canada publishes these series for all of British Columbia only.
Payroll employees
62 Health care and social assistance, monthly
Average hourly earnings
62 Health care and social assistance, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Average weekly hours
62 Health care and social assistance, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Job vacancy rate
62 Health care and social assistance, quarterly, compared with all industries
Average offered hourly wage
62 Health care and social assistance, wage offered for vacant positions, quarterly
Job vacancies
62 Health care and social assistance, quarterly
Major projects — Central Okanagan
BC Major Projects Inventory, projects of a type related to this industry
Data coverage for this industry. Business Register: 62 Health care and social assistance, Central Okanagan. Census: 62 Health care and social assistance. Labour Force Survey: Health care and social assistance. BC Labour Market Outlook: Ambulatory health care services; Child day care services; Hospitals; Nursing and residential care facilities; Social assistance excluding child care. Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours: 62 Health care and social assistance. Job Vacancy and Wage Survey: 62 Health care and social assistance. Statistics Canada suppresses some detailed industries for confidentiality. When a source does not publish this industry, the tab shows the closest level it does publish and names it.
Notes
Location quotient (LQ) compares the industry's share of local jobs or employer businesses with its share in British Columbia; see the Specialization tab.
Labour Force Survey estimates for census metropolitan areas are three-month moving averages, published for broad industry groups only; months with too few survey responses are not published.
Offered hourly wage is what employers offer for vacant positions; average hourly earnings is what employees paid by the hour earn. They are separate measures.
Manufacturing
Businesses, 2025
Businesses with Employees
Local Labour Force, 2021
Employment LQ vs BC
Local businesses — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Business Register (businesses with and without employees)
Businesses by year
With and without employees, December of each year
Businesses by number of employees
December 2025
Businesses by industry group
Largest 4-digit industries, December 2025
Where the businesses are
Businesses by dissemination area, December 2025
Local workforce — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Census
Share of workers in this industry
Labour force aged 15 and over, 2021
Workers by gender
Local labour force, 2016 and 2021
Occupations in this industry
People working in the community, 2021
Regional outlook — Thompson-Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey; WorkBC, BC Labour Market Outlook; BC Stats, Local Area Economic Dependencies
Employment in Manufacturing
Kelowna census metropolitan area, three-month moving average
Employment outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, Fabricated metal product manufacturing; Food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing; Machinery manufacturing; Other manufacturing; Paper manufacturing; Primary metal manufacturing; Ship and boat building; Transportation equipment manufacturing (excluding shipbuilding); Wood product manufacturing
Job openings outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, new jobs (expansion) and replacing retiring workers (replacement)
Occupations with the most job openings
Thompson-Okanagan, 2026–2035
Economic dependencies
Central Okanagan local area, 2020, BC Stats economic sectors that include this industry
British Columbia labour market
Statistics Canada publishes these series for all of British Columbia only.
Payroll employees
31-33 Manufacturing, monthly
Average hourly earnings
31-33 Manufacturing, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Average weekly hours
31-33 Manufacturing, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Job vacancy rate
31-33 Manufacturing, quarterly, compared with all industries
Average offered hourly wage
31-33 Manufacturing, wage offered for vacant positions, quarterly
Job vacancies
31-33 Manufacturing, quarterly
Data coverage for this industry. Business Register: 31-33 Manufacturing, Central Okanagan. Census: 31-33 Manufacturing. Labour Force Survey: Manufacturing. BC Labour Market Outlook: Fabricated metal product manufacturing; Food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing; Machinery manufacturing; Other manufacturing; Paper manufacturing; Primary metal manufacturing; Ship and boat building; Transportation equipment manufacturing (excluding shipbuilding); Wood product manufacturing. Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours: 31-33 Manufacturing. Job Vacancy and Wage Survey: 31-33 Manufacturing. Statistics Canada suppresses some detailed industries for confidentiality. When a source does not publish this industry, the tab shows the closest level it does publish and names it.
Notes
Location quotient (LQ) compares the industry's share of local jobs or employer businesses with its share in British Columbia; see the Specialization tab.
Labour Force Survey estimates for census metropolitan areas are three-month moving averages, published for broad industry groups only; months with too few survey responses are not published.
Offered hourly wage is what employers offer for vacant positions; average hourly earnings is what employees paid by the hour earn. They are separate measures.
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Businesses, 2025
Businesses with Employees
Local Labour Force, 2021
Employment LQ vs BC
Local businesses — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Business Register (businesses with and without employees)
Businesses by year
With and without employees, December of each year
Businesses by number of employees
December 2025
Businesses by industry group
Largest 4-digit industries, December 2025
Where the businesses are
Businesses by dissemination area, December 2025
Local workforce — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Census
Share of workers in this industry
Labour force aged 15 and over, 2021
Workers by gender
Local labour force, 2016 and 2021
Occupations in this industry
People working in the community, 2021
Regional outlook — Thompson-Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey; WorkBC, BC Labour Market Outlook; BC Stats, Local Area Economic Dependencies
Employment in Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
Kelowna census metropolitan area, three-month moving average
Employment outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, Farms and support activities; Fishing, hunting and trapping; Forestry, logging and support activities
Job openings outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, new jobs (expansion) and replacing retiring workers (replacement)
Occupations with the most job openings
Thompson-Okanagan, 2026–2035
Economic dependencies
Central Okanagan local area, 2020, BC Stats economic sectors that include this industry
British Columbia labour market
Statistics Canada publishes these series for all of British Columbia only.
Payroll employees
11 Forestry, logging and support, monthly
Average hourly earnings
11 Forestry, logging and support, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Average weekly hours
11 Forestry, logging and support, employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Job vacancy rate
11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, quarterly, compared with all industries
Average offered hourly wage
11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, wage offered for vacant positions, quarterly
Job vacancies
11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, quarterly
Data coverage for this industry. Business Register: 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, Central Okanagan. Census: 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. Labour Force Survey: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas (a wider group than this industry). BC Labour Market Outlook: Farms and support activities; Fishing, hunting and trapping; Forestry, logging and support activities. Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours: 11 Forestry, logging and support (forestry, logging and support only). Job Vacancy and Wage Survey: 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. Statistics Canada suppresses some detailed industries for confidentiality. When a source does not publish this industry, the tab shows the closest level it does publish and names it.
Notes
Location quotient (LQ) compares the industry's share of local jobs or employer businesses with its share in British Columbia; see the Specialization tab.
Labour Force Survey estimates for census metropolitan areas are three-month moving averages, published for broad industry groups only; months with too few survey responses are not published.
Offered hourly wage is what employers offer for vacant positions; average hourly earnings is what employees paid by the hour earn. They are separate measures.
Aerospace and Aviation
Businesses, 2025
Businesses with Employees
Local Labour Force, 2021
Employment LQ vs BC
Local businesses — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Business Register (businesses with and without employees)
Businesses by year
With and without employees, December of each year
Businesses by number of employees
December 2025
Where the businesses are
Businesses by dissemination area, December 2025
Local workforce — Central Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Census. The Census publishes sectors only, so this section shows 31-33 Manufacturing.
Share of workers in this industry
Labour force aged 15 and over, 2021
Workers by gender
Local labour force, 2016 and 2021
Occupations in this industry
People working in the community, 2021
Regional outlook — Thompson-Okanagan
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey; WorkBC, BC Labour Market Outlook; BC Stats, Local Area Economic Dependencies
Employment in Manufacturing
Kelowna census metropolitan area, three-month moving average
Employment outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, Transportation equipment manufacturing (excluding shipbuilding)
Job openings outlook
Thompson-Okanagan, new jobs (expansion) and replacing retiring workers (replacement)
Occupations with the most job openings
Thompson-Okanagan, 2026–2035
Economic dependencies
Central Okanagan local area, 2020, BC Stats economic sectors that include this industry
British Columbia labour market
Statistics Canada publishes these series for all of British Columbia only.
Payroll employees
3364 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, monthly
Average hourly earnings
336 Transportation equipment manufacturing (closest published level), employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Average weekly hours
336 Transportation equipment manufacturing (closest published level), employees paid by the hour, compared with all industries
Job vacancy rate
336 Transportation equipment manufacturing (closest published level), quarterly, compared with all industries
Average offered hourly wage
336 Transportation equipment manufacturing (closest published level), wage offered for vacant positions, quarterly
Job vacancies
336 Transportation equipment manufacturing (closest published level), quarterly
Data coverage for this industry. Business Register: 3364 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, Central Okanagan. Census: 31-33 Manufacturing (the Census publishes sectors only). Labour Force Survey: Manufacturing (a wider group than this industry). BC Labour Market Outlook: Transportation equipment manufacturing (excluding shipbuilding) (wider than this industry). Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours: 3364 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing. Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours: showing 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing, because 3364 is not published. Job Vacancy and Wage Survey: showing 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing, because 3364 is not published. Statistics Canada suppresses some detailed industries for confidentiality. When a source does not publish this industry, the tab shows the closest level it does publish and names it.
Notes
Location quotient (LQ) compares the industry's share of local jobs or employer businesses with its share in British Columbia; see the Specialization tab.
Labour Force Survey estimates for census metropolitan areas are three-month moving averages, published for broad industry groups only; months with too few survey responses are not published.
Offered hourly wage is what employers offer for vacant positions; average hourly earnings is what employees paid by the hour earn. They are separate measures.
Wages & Hours by Industry
Average Hourly Earnings, August 2026
Average Weekly Hours, August 2026
Highest-Paying Industry
Fastest Wage Growth
Average hourly earnings by industry
Employees paid by the hour, including overtime, August 2026
Change in average hourly earnings
Year-over-year change, August 2026
Average hourly earnings over time
Selected industry and all industries, monthly
Average weekly hours over time
Selected industry and all industries, monthly
Average weekly hours by industry
Employees paid by the hour, including overtime, August 2026
Notes
Average hourly earnings are what employers pay employees paid by the hour, before deductions, including overtime. They are not adjusted for inflation. The wages employers offer for vacant positions are on the Job Vacancies tab and measure something different.
Industries. Statistics Canada does not publish public administration for these series, and reports forestry, logging and support activities in place of all of agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. Values suppressed for confidentiality are left out.
Job Vacancies by Industry
Job Vacancies, Q2 2026
Job Vacancy Rate, Q2 2026
Average Offered Hourly Wage
Highest Vacancy Rate
Job vacancies over time
All industries, quarterly
Job vacancy rate over time
All industries, quarterly
Job vacancy rate by industry
Vacant positions as a share of all positions, Q2 2026
Job vacancies by industry
Number of vacant positions, Q2 2026
Job vacancy rate by industry over time
Last 12 quarters; darker cells mean more vacant positions relative to all positions
Average offered hourly wage by industry
Wage offered for vacant positions, Q2 2026
Vacancies by subsector
Q2 2026
Notes
Job vacancy rate = vacant positions / (occupied positions + vacant positions). A position is vacant when it could start within 30 days and the employer is actively recruiting outside the organization.
Offered hourly wage is what employers offer for vacant positions, not what current employees earn. Earnings of current employees are on the Wages & Hours tab.
Values suppressed by Statistics Canada for confidentiality or reliability are left out.
Payroll Employment by Industry
Payroll Employees, August 2026
Goods-Producing Share
Fastest-Growing Industry
Employees Paid by the Hour
Payroll employment over time
All industries, monthly
Payroll employees by industry
August 2026
Change in payroll employees by industry
Year-over-year change, August 2026
Salaried and hourly employees by industry
Share of payroll employees, August 2026
Payroll employees in the selected industry
All, salaried and hourly employees, monthly
Notes
Payroll employees are people on an employer payroll, counted by where the business reports them. Self-employed people are not included. Other employees are paid by commission or on another basis.
Statistics Canada reports forestry, logging and support activities in place of all of agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. Values suppressed for confidentiality are left out.