Labour Market Activity	2007	2008	2009
Labour Force ('000)	2,366	2,426	2,455
Employment ('000)	2,266	2,314	2,259
Unemployment ('000)	100	111	186
Participation rate (%)	66.3	66.6	66.0
Unemployment rate (%)	4.2	4.6	7.6

In 2009, 31 per cent (562,000 people) of the province’s paid workers were unionized or were covered by a collective agreement or a union contract. The largest unions are Canadian Union of Public Employees, B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union and Affiliates, and B.C. Teachers’ Federation.

Labour relations in the province are governed by the Labour Relations Code, which encourages the orderly resolution of any labour dispute. The Employment Standards Act regulates conditions of employment including hours of work, payment of wages, minimum wages, annual holidays, maternity benefits and terminations.

WorkSafe BC compensates injured workers for loss of earnings and medical expenses and provides rehabilitation for disabling injuries.

Average After-Tax Income (2008 constant dollars)
Family Type				2006	2007	2008
All Family Units				56,400	58,900	61,500
Elderly Families				58,300	64,000	67,900
Non-Elderly Families				73,700	77,600	79,800
Married Couples				73,400	75,500	71,900
Two-Parent Families with Children				78,300	83,500	85,400
Married Couples with other Relatives				91,000	102,000	114,000
Lone-parent Families				38,500	39,200	44,400
Unattached Individuals				30,900	30,500	33,500
Source: Statistics Canada, Income Trends

Employment by Industry (based on NAICS) '000
Industry				2007	2008	2009
Goods-Producing				496	502	447
Agriculture				36	34	34
Forestry				24	17	14
Fishing and Trapping				3	2	2
Mining				20	26	24
Utilities				10	14	13
Construction				197	221	195
Manufacturing				205	187	164
				1,77	1,81	1,81
Services-Producing				1	3	3
Trade				365	355	369
Transportation, Warehousing				126	128	115
Finance and Related				145	147	143
Professional, Scientific, Technical				166	174	169
Management, Admin, Support				99	101	94
Education				156	162	162
Health Care and Social Assistance				240	246	260
Information, Culture, Recreation				118	118	119
Accommodation and Food				173	178	172
Other Services				88	101	102
Public Administration				96	103	106
				2,26	2,31	2,25
Total				6	4	9
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey

Average Weekly Wage Rate (Dollars)
Industry				2007	2008	2009
Goods Producing Industries				881	915	956
Agriculture				564	539	587
Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Oil, Gas				1,117	1,179	1,254
Utilities				1,115	1,164	1,252
Construction				872	908	972
Manufacturing				857	882	897
Service Producing Industries				713	746	765
Trade				577	599	613
Transportation and Warehousing				874	920	914
Finance and Related				774	832	880
Professional, Scientific, Technical				974	991	1,081
Management, Admin, Support				584	613	666
Education				844	896	871
Health Care and Social Assistance				741	783	804
Information, Culture, Recreation				748	765	768
Accommodation and Food				394	398	393
Other Services				664	667	664
Public Administration				1,013	1,043	1,126
Industrial Aggregate				748	781	801
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey