Employment
increased by 2,500 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 10,300 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment
increased by 2,400 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 5,400 jobs
year-over-year.
Part-time Employment
remained unchanged
from the previous month and
increased by 4,900 jobs
year-over-year.
Unemployment
increased by 600 people
from the previous month and
increased by 100 people
compared to the same month last year.
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
increased by 2,400 jobs
from last month and
increased by 5,400 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
remained unchanged
from last month and
increased by 4,900 jobs
year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
increased by 600 people
from the previous month and
increased by 100 people
compared to last year.
Scroll down to explore the data
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
increased by 7.1 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by 0.7 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
increased by 7.1 percentage points
year-over-year.
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
increased by 2,500 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 10,300 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, employment
increased by 2,500 jobs.
Over the last year, the labor market has
increased by 10,300 jobs.
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Manufacturing:
11,000
workers.
Construction:
5,900
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas:
3,100
workers.
The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.
Top 3 Industries in Services Sector
Wholesale and retail trade:
14,900
workers.
Health care and social assistance:
13,300
workers.
Educational services:
8,800
workers.
In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 54.7% of the sector's workforce.
Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month
Public administration:
Change of
800
workers
(increased by 16.33%).
Professional, scientific and technical services:
Change of
700
workers
(increased by 22.58%).
Health care and social assistance:
Change of
700
workers
(increased by 5.56%).
Educational services:
Change of
600
workers
(decreased by 6.38%).
Manufacturing:
Change of
500
workers
(decreased by 4.35%).
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
4,800
workers
(increased by 47.52%).
Manufacturing:
Change of
3,300
workers
(increased by 42.86%).
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas:
Change of
2,600
workers
(decreased by 45.61%).
Educational services:
Change of
2,500
workers
(increased by 39.68%).
Business, building and other support services:
Change of
2,400
workers
(increased by Inf%).
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, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.
Local Workforce Insights
March, 2026
Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment,
and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Formed by one or more Census Subdivisions (CSDs), an SLA can be described as a territorial unit where most of the residents with jobs are working in the area and most of the jobs in the area are filled by workers residing in the area.
Quesnel
SLA consists of the following communities:
Cariboo A, Cariboo B, Cariboo C, Cariboo I, Quesnel, Wells.
Key Local Labour Market Insights
Total local employment is 10,940 in March 2026, it declined by 130 jobs from February and fell by 860 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate is 54.6%. It fell by 0.7 percentage points
from February and went down by 4.7 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate is 7.4%. It went up by 1.3 percentage points month-over-month, and grew by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.
Employment Trends
Total employment in March 2026 was 10,940, showing a moderate decrease of 130 from the previous month. Compared to March last year, employment levels decreased by 860, showing weakness.
Scroll down to explore more data
Employment Rate Dynamics
The employment rate reached 54.6% in March 2026. This represents a decline of 0.7 percentage points from February (55.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 4.7 percentage points from 59.3%.
Unemployment Rate Trends
The unemployment rate was 7.4% in March 2026, up 1.3 percentage points from February. Compared to March last year (7.0%), the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.
Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns
The weak correlation (-0.74) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.75) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of -0.59 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.
Quesnel
SLA consists of the following communities:
Cariboo A, Cariboo B, Cariboo C, Cariboo I, Quesnel, Wells.
Monthly Local Workforce Trends
March, 2026
Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment,
and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Formed by one or more Census Subdivisions (CSDs), an SLA can be described as a territorial unit where most of the residents with jobs are working in the area and most of the jobs in the area are filled by workers residing in the area.
Quesnel
SLA consists of the following communities:
Cariboo A, Cariboo B, Cariboo C, Cariboo I, Quesnel, Wells.
Scroll down to explore the data
Local area
Employment Trends
Total employment in March 2026 was 10,940, showing a moderate decrease of 130 from the previous month. Compared to March last year, employment levels decreased by 860, showing weakness.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Local area
Employment Rate Dynamics
The employment rate reached 54.6% in March 2026. This represents a decline of 0.7 percentage points from February (55.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 4.7 percentage points from 59.3%.
Unemployment Rate Trends
The unemployment rate was 7.4% in March 2026, up 1.3 percentage points from February. Compared to March last year (7.0%), the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Local area
Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.75) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Local area
Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns
The unemployment rate correlation of -0.59 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Workforce Composition by Status
In the most recent month,
Full-time Employment
increased by 2,400 jobs
from last month and
increased by 5,400 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
Part-time Employment
remained unchanged
from last month and
increased by 4,900 jobs
year-over-year.
The number of
Unemployed
individuals
increased by 600 people
from the previous month and
increased by 100 people
compared to last year.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate
The
Employment Rate
increased by 7.1 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Unemployment Rate
decreased by 0.7 percentage points
from a year ago.
The
Participation Rate
increased by 7.1 percentage points
year-over-year.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Jobs Added or Lost by Month
Employment levels
increased by 2,500 jobs
from the previous month and
increased by 10,300 jobs
compared to the same month last year.
In the most recent month, employment
increased by 2,500 jobs.
Over the last year, the labor market has
increased by 10,300 jobs.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector
Manufacturing:
11,000
workers.
Construction:
5,900
workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas:
3,100
workers.
The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.
Top 3 Industries in Services Sector
Wholesale and retail trade:
14,900
workers.
Health care and social assistance:
13,300
workers.
Educational services:
8,800
workers.
In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 54.7% of the sector's workforce.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month
Public administration:
Change of
800
workers
(increased by 16.33%).
Professional, scientific and technical services:
Change of
700
workers
(increased by 22.58%).
Health care and social assistance:
Change of
700
workers
(increased by 5.56%).
Educational services:
Change of
600
workers
(decreased by 6.38%).
Manufacturing:
Change of
500
workers
(decreased by 4.35%).
These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year
Wholesale and retail trade:
Change of
4,800
workers
(increased by 47.52%).
Manufacturing:
Change of
3,300
workers
(increased by 42.86%).
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas:
Change of
2,600
workers
(decreased by 45.61%).
Educational services:
Change of
2,500
workers
(increased by 39.68%).
Business, building and other support services:
Change of
2,400
workers
(increased by Inf%).
The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Economic region
Conclusion
The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year.
Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.
Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Employment rate Provincial Comparison
Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Quesnel ranks 40th with an employment rate of 54.6%. The provincial range is 39.4% to 67.5%, with half of areas between 50.3% and 58.6% (median: 54.3%).
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison
Among 84 small areas in British Columbia, Quesnel ranks 35th with an unemployment rate of 7.4%. The provincial range is 5.1% to 18.1%, with half of areas between 6.7% and 9.3% (median: 7.6%).
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 2026
Cariboo Economic region — Labour Market Outlook
Total Job Openings
Most Job Openings
Job openings and employment by occupation and industry for the period 2025-2035
Forecasted number of new job openings in the period 2025-2035
Loading...
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
Forecasted employment in the period 2025-2035
Loading...
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
High-opportunity occupations
High opportunity occupations by NOC based on forecasted number of job openings in the period 2025-2035
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
BC workforce supply composition for the period 2025-2035
Forecasted number of new job market entrants in the period 2025-2035
Loading...
Data source: Labour Market Analytics, Forecasting & Information
These job openings provide a forecast for the demand for labour
with the associated education background. This is a demand projection only
and is not a measure of how many graduates the B.C. education system needs to produce.
These job openings are projected to be supplied through a mix of young
B.C. residents starting work after being educated either in B.C. or
other jurisdictions, immigrants, migrants from other provinces,
or existing residents pursuing additional education.
Planners should take these other possible sources of supply into account
when using these projections for post-secondary program planning purposes.
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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
Loading...
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