Employment
The number of people employed in the Thompson Okanagan Region increased from 262,500 in August 2018 to 282,300 in August 2019. Simultaneously, the number of people in the labour force increased from 279,600 in August 2018 to 295,900 in August 2019. Last month, employment rates were 63.3% in B.C. and 62.9% in Canada, while the Thompson Okanagan Region was 62.3%. The unemployment rate in the Thompson Okanagan Region increased from 4.4% in July to 4.6% in August.
Source: Statistics Canada LFS
Number of Postings by Occupation, in Kamloops
Airport Passenger Volumes
Although month-to-month passenger growth on all carriers (ACA, WJA and CMA), remains strong at over 6%, there is a decrease from this period last year of 2.7%. Again, this decrease was expected as Rouge operated 10 flights versus 28 over the same period last year. We monitored Rouge passenger loads closely and we are communicating with Air Canada on the overall performance of the Toronto service.
Source: Kamloops Airport Authority
Real Estate
The average MLS® residential price in the province was $685,575, an increase of 2.6 per cent from August 2018.
The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average price for homes sold in August 2019 was around $493,500, up almost 4% from the same month last year.
Sources: Kamloops and District Real Estate Association, BC Real Estate Association, and Canadian Real Estate Association
Housing Construction
There were 14 new housing starts in Kamloops in August 2019, which was down from the 22 starts in August 2018. The 14 housing starts represented $3,389,700 in construction value, compared to $6,643,140 in construction value for the 22 housing starts in August of the previous year.
Source: City of Kamloops; Statistics Canada
Building Permits
In August 2019, the City of Kamloops issued 25 residential building permits valued at $3,833,400 down from the 35 permits issued in August of the previous year at a value of $7,101,740. A total of 18 commercial building permits were issued in August 2019 with a value of $3,837,000 compared to the 18 permits issued in August 2018 with a value of $4,966,000.
Source: City of Kamloops
Business Licenses
Kamloops issued 53 new business license applications in August 2019, up slightly from 51 the previous year.
472
Business Licenses
Issued (YTD)
328
Residential Building Permits
Issued (YTD)
110
Commercial Building Permits
Issued (YTD)
Source: City of Kamloops
