labour market

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• Homalco First Nation. located on the Bute Inlet of the Upper Sunshine Coast, with the main community just south of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. It has almost 500 people, of which half the people live in the community, with most of the other members living in other parts of the FNES and North Vancouver Island Aboriginal Training Society (NVIATS) service areas.

• Klahoose First Nation, has most of it territory on the Upper Sunshine Coast, north of Homalco, but most its members in the community on Cortez Island. between Campbell River and the mainland. It has approximately 200 people, ofwhich approximately 60 people live in the community, with most of the other members living in other parts of the FNES and NVIATS service areas.

Non-Aboriginal identity population Aboriginal identity population While these communities are tied to the upper Sunshine Coast, economically they are located within the larger Comox-Strathcona Regional District which includes the central part of Vancouver Island and the large communities of Campbell River and Comox. The Region as a whole has a population of 101,045 people (2.5% ofBC's total population), of which 7,265 or 7.2% of the region's population are Aboriginal people. The region has slightly lower rates of labour force participation and employment. and slightly higher rates of unemployment than the province as a whole.

Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining activities contribute to the local economy. The growing urban centres in the region continue to diversify their economies towards business and services, which support their retiree communities. Several condominium and retirement living project expansions are located within the area. The area has many wood processing facilities, some ofwhich have announced closures or output reductions. The Annual Allowable cuts have recently been reduced for the timber supply areas in this region. Mining is

also an important local industry. There are coal, and copper and zinc mines operating in the area. Proposed mines may open in the future ... In Campbell River a cruise ship facility opened recently. The area's traditional fisheries industry continues to experience lower employment as the transition from wild to fish farming continues. The area has cattle, livestock and dairy operations, orchards, vegetable farming and horse ranches, as well as shell fish and fin fish farming operations.

Local Economic Characteristics

Over 50,000 people are employed in the region, the largest numbers in business and other services, retail trade, agriculture and other resource based industries, and health care and social services. The chart shows the proportions and numbers of people employed in each industry. The Regional District has over 4,300 businesses, ofwhich 3,900 have fewer than 20 employees, with the largest number and the largest businesses in construction, retail trade, health care and social services, and professional, scientific & technical services.