BC – Since the launch of the BC Jobs Plan in 2011, British Columbia went from fourth in economic growth to first today, expanding by 3% ($6 billion) in 2015. British Columbia is also expected to lead the country again in the next two years.
While month-to-month numbers vary, job growth and unemployment are also moving in the same direction. The province went from ninth in job growth to leading the country with the highest job creation record in Canada of 7.9%. British Columbia now has record employment with over 2.3 million British Columbians working and has added over 176,000 jobs since 2011.
Of the jobs created, over 80% are full-time and 80% in the private sector. In addition, British Columbia went from having the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in Canada to currently having the lowest unemployment rate at 5.6%.
The Province has achieved 15 of the 19 ambitious targets set out in 2011 BC Jobs Plan. Bond and Kyllo announced that moving forward, British Columbia will have a renewed focus on the key sectors that make up the backbone of the jobs plan, including agrifoods, forestry, international education, mining and energy, natural gas, technology and green economy, tourism and transportation, as well as the four key cross-sectors: Aboriginal Peoples and First Nations, international trade and investment, manufacturing and small business.
Bond and Kyllo also highlighted four new sectors where British Columbia will see immense growth opportunities: clean tech, life sciences, digital media, advanced manufacturing. These sectors are expected to see major growth in the coming years, creating sustainable, long-term, high-paying jobs for British Columbia’s next generation.
British Columbia’s small- and medium-sized businesses are key to the strength and growth of the province’s economic record. Bond and Kyllo presented two companies, Atomic Cartoons and Conquer Mobile, with BC Job Makers awards as part of today’s announcement. BC Job Makers is a celebration of the entrepreneurs and innovators who create jobs, train apprentices, contribute positively to the diverse British Columbia economy and inspire others to do the same.
The BC Jobs Plan was launched five years ago to diversify and grow British Columbia’s economy and support long-term job creation in the province. British Columbians are now seeing the benefits of this effort: British Columbia’s economy is diverse, strong and growing.