Kelowna’s workforce growing rapidly and getting more tech savvy

The number of working-aged people in Kelowna grew five times faster than the rest of Canada during the 2016-21 census period.

The 15 to 64 age group grew by 12.6% compared to the national average of 2.5%.

“The Labour Force is growing,” says a report by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission that analysed data from the latest Statistics Canada census release earlier this week.

“Both labour force (people aged 15+ who want to be employed), and employment (people actually employed) in the region grew at a rate higher than the Canada and British Columbian average and higher than Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary,” the report says.

There are also significant changes in where these people work.

During the census period professional, scientific and technical service employment grew to 8% of the labour force from 6.6%.

Health care and social assistance grew to 14% of the labour force from 12.9% and educational services grew to 7% from 6.1%.

There are more certified trades people aged 25 to 64 at 11.6%, up 2.5% from 2016.

The average commuting time in the Central Okanagan is 19.5 minutes compared to the national average of 23.7 minutes.

Read more from the report here.

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