Squamish unemployment rates are down and the town appears to be leaning towards a sales and service economy, according to the latest census data released.
However, that’s not the only thing the new statistics reveal.
Squamish’s unemployment rate at the time it was surveyed, which was May 2016, was recorded at 5.4 per cent — a lower average than the rest of the province.
B.C.’s overall unemployment rate around that time was recorded at 5.8 per cent.
There was also insight into education.
Roughly a third of Squamish residents have a university education of some kind.
Close to two-thirds of the town has a post-secondary education of some sort, be it college, university or apprenticeships in the trades.
The numbers were derived by surveying people aged 15 and up — in other words, anyone who’s eligible to work without requiring parental permission.
Education
Roughly two-thirds of the people who are old enough to work in Squamish have a post-secondary education. Lower education levels don’t necessarily mean people dropped out. Because the age people can start working is 15, some of those surveyed are too young to have completed school.
Occupations
It appears Squamish has shifted away dramatically from its logging roots. Employment in the natural resources sector is a tiny sliver of the labour force — 2.2 per cent, to be exact — as of the most recent statistics. Sales and service has become the strongest sector, accounting for about a quarter of the jobs in town.
Employment
It’s important to note that unemployment calculations in this context only include people who are looking for jobs. People who aren’t part of the labour force include those too young, old or sick to work. However, it also includes people who are capable of working but have given up looking for a job.
