Employment Overview

Employment Base

Mining, government/public sector, tourism

Employment by Industry

Employment distribution illustrates the dominance of mining in Elkford’s economy. More than half of Elkford jobs were in mining compared to only 5% of total jobs in B.C. Elkford consequently has a lower share of jobs in nearly every other economic sector.

Employment by Primary Occupation

40% of Elkford’s resident labour force works in trades, transport and equipment operator occupations – almost three times the provincial rate for these types of occupations. Occupations unique to primary industry are naturally more common in Elkford. Occupations in sales and service, management, and business, finance and administration are less common.

Leading Employers

Place of Work

Elkford has a lower rate of home-based employment than either the East Kootenay region or B.C. Elkford has a much higher incidence of residents working in Elkford (73% compared to 38% of provincial workers who work in their home municipality). Very few Elkford workers have no fixed workplace address. Industries that typically employ many workers with no fixed workplace location include construction, sales, and transportation, all of which are less common in Elkford.

Labour Force Activity

Elkford’s participation rate and employment rate are higher than both the East Kootenay Region and B.C. Elkford’s unemployment rate is lower than the East Kootenay Region and B.C.