Prince George region to see 21,100 job openings over next 10 years, report predicts

The province has released the 2023 edition of the B.C. Labour Market Outlook, a 10-year forecast of the expected flow of supply and demand for labour in the province.

It shows a large turnover in the province's labour market is looming as boomers get ready to exit the workforce and retire. 

The report found that over the next decade approximately one million job openings are expected to be available across the province, a majority of the positions being in the healthcare and technology sector with 65 per cent of future opening will be replacing those leaving the workforce.

In the next 10 years, the Cariboo region, which includes Prince George, Williams Lake and Quesnel, is expected to have 21,100 job openings and about two percent of these jobs will come through economic growth, and the remaining 98 percent will come from replacing existing workers, mainly due to retirement.

Employment demand is expected to grow at an average of 0.1 percent annually during the next 10 years.

The population of the Cariboo is forecast to grow by 0.3 percent per year on average over the forecast period, from 169,900 in 2023 to 175,300 in 2033.

All of the growth will occur in the population 65 years and older, while the younger age groups are expected to decline slightly. The overall participation rate is expected to decline from 65 percent in 2023 to 62.2 percent in 2033.

Given the high number of retirements that are expected, pressure to replace these retiring workers will be felt across a variety of industries but mainly with providers of health, education and retail trade services.

In the North Coast and Nechako regions, which includes Vanderhoof, Kitimat, Terrace, and Prince Rupert, 15,300 job openings are expected.

About 31 percent of these jobs will come through economic growth, and the remaining 69 percent will come from replacing existing workers, mainly due to retirement.

Employment demand is expected to grow at an average of 1.1 percent annually during the next decade.

This  report is meant to provide British Columbians with the knowledge required to make informed decisions around careers, hiring, training and education.

However, the province has also introduced a new Find Your Path digital tool,  where people can explore in-demand careers and map out their educational journey, with easy-to-navigate steps to guide them.

Education and skills pathways have been mapped within the tool for more than 250 occupations, such as many of the high-opportunity occupations identified in the 2023 Labour Market Outlook and more occupations will continue to be added on a regular basis.