The Thompson Okanagan region is a geographically diverse tourism destination that offers a wide range of activities and visitor experiences — ski resorts, golf courses, wineries, restaurants, campgrounds, indigenous and heritage sites, museums, trails, farms and orchards, and much more. The diverse product offering in the region calls for a strong, skilled workforce to deliver exceptional guest services and support tourism businesses.
Regional Labour Force
The tourism industry in the Thompson Okanagan region employs approximately 34,000 full-time equivalent staff.
The biggest sector is food & beverage services, followed by accommodation and recreation & entertainment (including outdoor adventures).
In 2014, B.C.’s tourism industry generated $14.6 billion in revenue and the Thompson Okanagan region contributed about 14%.
Regional Labour Market Projection
By 2028, it is anticipated that the region will have 12,200 full-time equivalent job openings in the Thompson Okanagan region. According to the BC Tourism Human Resources Strategy (THRS) 2019, the food & beverage, accommodation and recreation and entertainment sectors will be the hardest hit.
Labour Challenges
The Thompson Okanagan region comprises a large number of seasonal businesses, which prevents employers from offering year-round, full-time opportunities to stellar employees. It’s also challenging for employers to entice seasonal workers to return year after year.
For small employers, they may have limited resources and may not have the structure or tools to implement an effective human resource program that can engage employees in the long run.
Lastly, about one-third of the workforce in B.C.’s tourism industry is between 15 and 24 years old. With 2,500 fewer working-age high school students in the Thompson Okanagan region than five years ago, the youth population is declining.
Tourism employers must explore new and different labour pools, and think of innovative ways to recruit and retain staff.
Tools and Resources
These tools and resources will help tourism businesses recruit, retain, and train employees.
Recruitment & Retention Resources
Attracting qualified candidates and choosing the right fit will save business owners time and money, but it’s equally important to keep employees happy and satisfied so they work harder and stay longer with the business. Explore a myriad of tips and articles to help achieve that.
Industry Training
Employee training and development has a direct impact on improving customer service, productivity, consistency, staff morale, and sales. Investing in staff training is also a way to keep the stellar staff, making sure the employees are equipped with the right skill sets, certification and training for their positions.
Health & Safety
On average, for every $1 of direct costs of an incident, tourism employers will expend an additional $4 in indirect costs (e.g. overtime for other employees, hiring and/or training a replacement staff, and lost productivity). By focusing on preventing and effectively managing workplace injuries, employers can help keep their employees safe and healthy while saving the company time and money. Complete a free online assessment to gain practical tips on building and improving your health and safety program.
Career Explorer
The tourism industry in the Thompson Okanagan region offers a wide range of job and career opportunities. The Career Explorer contains free career resources including profiles, job descriptions, training information and job search tips specifically for the region.
Partnership to Support Tourism Human Resources
