Government
Public Administration Jobs
The number of government jobs in Greater Victoria was virtually unchanged from 2001 to 2006. Federal government jobs increased substantially, especially in Defence (+26%), while provincial government jobs declined by 11%. Municipal and regional government employment was also down slightly (-2%).
As the provincial capital, Greater Victoria has much more concentrated government employment than BC overall. The location quotient of 2.67 means that government jobs are 2.67 times more common in Greater Victoria compared to BC. Federal government employment, mainly due to CFB Esquimalt, is even more concentrated than provincial government employment.
These employment figures from the Census are for "place of work", meaning they are jobs that have a fixed location in Greater Victoria, regardless of where the worker lives.
|
Public Administration Jobs in Greater Victoria |
Jobs |
Job Growth, 2001-2006 |
Location Quotients* (relative to BC) |
|||
|
2001 |
2006 |
Greater Victoria |
BC |
2001 |
2006 |
|
|
Federal - Defence |
4,985 |
6,265 |
26% |
24% |
7.97 |
7.89 |
|
Federal - Other |
2,980 |
3,060 |
3% |
4% |
1.24 |
1.19 |
|
Provincial |
12,330 |
11,005 |
-11% |
-13% |
4.31 |
4.33 |
|
Municipal & Regional |
3,015 |
2,945 |
-2% |
1% |
1.27 |
1.20 |
|
Aboriginal & Other |
110 |
120 |
9% |
7% |
0.30 |
0.30 |
|
Total |
23,425 |
23,405 |
0% |
-1% |
2.72 |
2.67 |
| Source: Statistics Canada Census | ||||||
Annual Employment in Public Administration
Government employment in Greater Victoria has increased significantly since 2006, growing by 19% in 2008 alone (although as noted to the right, year-over-year changes are subject to random variation that can amplify or dampen the real trend).
The growth trend has stretched over several years as employment is up 42% since 2003, far outpacing the provincial growth rate of 11% and the Metro Vancouver loss of 10%. As the graph shows, however, government employment in both BC and Greater Victoria is virtually the same in 2008 as it was in 1995.
Employment in Public Administration (Graph)
Annual employment data by sector is from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey (LFS). Because it is based on a survey, the results include sampling error and may vary somewhat year to year due to random variations as opposed to real changes in annual sector employment.
Caution is therefore advised for interpreting changes on a year over year basis. Sustained trends over longer time periods are considerably more valid.
|
Employment in Public Administration (000) |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
Growth, 07-08 |
Growth 03-08 |
|
BC |
93.0 |
97.2 |
95.1 |
91.3 |
95.9 |
102.9 |
7% |
11% |
|
Greater Victoria |
15.7 |
19.0 |
20.0 |
17.9 |
18.8 |
22.3 |
19% |
42% |
|
Metro Vancouver |
49.3 |
47 |
45.9 |
43.3 |
44.8 |
44.6 |
0% |
-10% |
| Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey. Reported by BC Stats. | ||||||||
Federal Government Wages and Salaries Per Capita
The federal government spent $51.2 million on wages and salaries in Greater Victoria in 2008, an increase of more than $4 million from 2007. The amount paid to local residents increased by 23% from 2003 to 2008.
On a per capita basis, Greater Victoria received nearly $140 per person in 2007 (2008 data not yet available). This is much higher than the $24 per capita in Metro Vancouver and ranks Greater Victoria third highest in Canada among the country's top 20 metro areas.
Per Capita Wages and Salaries (Graph)
The federal government is an important contributor to the Greater Victoria economy by directly employing thousands of workers and supporting local businesses through purchases of goods and services and through the local spending by employees.
Wages and salaries are used as an indicator of the overall federal government presence in the region.
|
Federal Government Wages & Salaries |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
Change 2006-07 |
Change 2002-07 |
|
Greater Victoria ($000) |
$41,749 |
$42,774 |
$45,795 |
$46,934 |
$47,172 |
$51,208 |
8.6% |
23% |
|
Metro Vancouver ($000) |
$70,431 |
$68,992 |
$73,735 |
$78,373 |
$83,436 |
$84,684 |
1.5% |
20% |
|
Greater Victoria per capita |
$127.09 |
$129.61 |
$137.84 |
$140.52 |
$139.81 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Metro Vancouver per capita |
$17.41 |
$17.58 |
$19.93 |
$22.77 |
$24.28 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Greater Victoria per capita Rank among Canada's Top 20 Metro Areas |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
n/a |
||
| Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM. Population estimates used to calculate per capita values also from Statistics Canada, CANSIM. | ||||||||