Kootenay Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 400 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from last month and increased by 1,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 600 jobs from last month and increased by 1,400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 400 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment remained unchanged . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,000 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,600 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 5,400 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 5,300 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance : 15,800 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 14,200 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 10,800 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 20 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 700 workers ( increased by 6.93 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 4.05 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 17.86 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 11.9 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 23.81 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 5,100 workers ( increased by 89.47 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 3,600 workers ( increased by 29.51 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,300 workers ( increased by 39.76 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 2,400 workers ( decreased by 30.77 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 23.19 %).

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: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 7,550 in July 2025, it grew by 30 jobs from June and showed an uptick of 410 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 59.0%. It showed growth of 0.3 percentage points from June and grew by 3.3 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 6.0%. It expanded by 1.0 percentage points month-over-month, and expanded by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in July 2025 was 7,550, showing a minor increase of 30. versus July, employment levels grew by 410, maintaining momentum.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.0% in July 2025. This represents a rise of 0.3 percentage points from June (58.7%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 3.3 percentage points from 55.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in July 2025, up 1.0 percentage points from June. Compared to July last year (5.6%), the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.68) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.60) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.05 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Trail consists of the following communities: Combined Trail Areas .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in July 2025 was 7,550, showing a minor increase of 30. versus July, employment levels grew by 410, maintaining momentum.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.0% in July 2025. This represents a rise of 0.3 percentage points from June (58.7%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 3.3 percentage points from 55.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in July 2025, up 1.0 percentage points from June. Compared to July last year (5.6%), the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.60) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.05 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 September, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from last month and increased by 1,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 600 jobs from last month and increased by 1,400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 400 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment remained unchanged . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,000 jobs .

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,600 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 5,400 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 5,300 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance : 15,800 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 14,200 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 10,800 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 20 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 700 workers ( increased by 6.93 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 4.05 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 17.86 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 11.9 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 23.81 %).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 5,100 workers ( increased by 89.47 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 3,600 workers ( increased by 29.51 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,300 workers ( increased by 39.76 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 2,400 workers ( decreased by 30.77 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 23.19 %).

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 September, 2025
Economic region

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. Key industries driving the trend are: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Trail ranks 40th with an employment rate of 59.0%. The provincial range is 42.1% to 74.3%, with half of areas between 53.8% and 62.7% (median: 58.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Trail ranks 7th with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. The provincial range is 5.3% to 9.9%, with half of areas between 6.0% and 7.0% (median: 6.2%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 2025

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