If you’re planning a move to Victoria, it’s worth getting familiar with the local job market and outlook for opportunities. Despite Victoria’s relatively small size compared to hubs on the Lower Mainland, the city holds a few strategic advantages that produce plenty of well-paying jobs all year round. As the capital city of British Columbia that draws millions of tourists and is located on the Pacific Coast, Victoria is an excellent place to make a career.
This article highlights some of the largest job sectors and employers in the city:
Government
As the capital of BC, Victoria houses the provincial government headquarters, which drives demand for public administration careers and government-related employment. Jobs in government have always been desirable for their stability, benefits, and consistent flow of economic activity even in the down times. The strength of this sector provides work for adjacent sectors that collaborate with the government, including legal, scientific, consulting and suppliers.
The provincial government is a major employer in Victoria, centred around the Parliament Buildings and Legislative Assembly of BC. The BC Public Service, a collection of regulatory authorities, crown corporations, health authorities and commissions, provides a ton of jobs.
There’s also a sizeable Federal government footprint in Victoria, including the Canada Revenue Agency, Department of Public Services and Procurement, and Department of Housing.
Finally, there’s opportunity at the municipal level. The City of Victoria employes over 1,000 people to deliver programs and services, plus there’s the regional government for Greater Victoria, known as the Capital Regional District (CRD). Municipal job opportunities are also available in other municipalities within Greater Victoria, including Saanich, Langford, and Esquimalt.
Summary of some of Victoria’s larger government employers:
- Province of BC
- BC Public Service
- Government of Canada
- City of Victoria
- Capital Regional District
- District of Saanich
Tourism
According to the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, tourism is a $1.9 billion industry in Greater Victoria, which sees roughly 3 million visitors per year. While the sector is cyclical by nature with heavier numbers during the warmer months, visitors flow all year round to experience the charm of Victoria. Tourists are dropped off by large cruise ships, whisked across by ferries, and unloaded off airplanes at the Victoria International Airport.
The tourism sector creates direct employment opportunities along with providing adjacent, indirect jobs to support the industry. Employment opportunities include tour guides, guest services, excursions, and staff at major attractions like the Malahat Skywalk, Butchart Gardens, museums, and zipline parks. But that’s just the start.
The hotels are a major piece of the Victoria tourism sector. There are numerous hotels in downtown Victoria near cruise ship ports and the Inner Harbour, with a 167-unit Hyatt and a 198-unit Hilton currently under construction.
The thriving tourism industry also powers the success of retail shops and stores in the downtown core. Here, local artisans sling their wares, and locally owned storefronts are able to thrive from excessive foot traffic.
Victoria is home to some world-class restaurants and bars, with the greatest number of restaurants per capita in the country. Aside from its high density, the restaurant scene is well-known for its culinary diversity and is well represented by Asian and Indian flavours. From fine dining to fast casual and food trucks, you’ll also find a great collection of cocktail bars and wine bars throughout the city.
Summary of some of Victoria’s larger tourism employers:
- Butchart Gardens
- BC Ferries
- Clipper Vacations
- Wildplay Element Parks
- Harbour Air Sea Planes
- Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
- Marriott International
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
- Hilton
- Best Western Hotels
- Coast Hotels
Military
The military is a significant employment sector in Victoria that brings together workers from across the country and contributes around $600 million to the local economy. The primary employer is the Department of National Defence (DND), which operates the base and employs roughly 6,000-7,000 military members. Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt is the second largest military base in the country by number of employees, thanks to Victoria’s strategic position on the Pacific Ocean. Only the base in Halifax (on the opposite coast) is larger.
CFB Esquimalt provides a ton of employment opportunities that require a range of skillsets from both military personnel and civilians. As Canada’s Pacific naval base, CFB Esquimalt houses the Maritime Forces Pacific, the Joint Task Force Pacific, the Regional Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, and the Fleet Diving Unit Pacific.
CFB Esquimalt is also home to a number of operations that support the military. The Canadian Forces Fleet School conducts naval training for both military and civilian professionals. There’s also HMC Dockyard Esquimalt, a large ship repair facility that supports naval vessels. Finally, there’s the Naval Band, CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, and numerous private companies that support military operations.
Healthcare
Healthcare is a major employment sector here in Victoria. A significant contributing factor is the city’s population, which is older than the national average. As of 2021, 23% of Victoria residents were 65 or older – a number that is projected to grow. An aging population requires a strong network of hospitals and clinics, and also opens the door for private businesses to provide additional services.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), also known as Island Health, is by far the biggest healthcare employer. Island Health is a public healthcare provider that serves over 800,000 Vancouver Island residents while providing public health, primary care, home care, mental health, and acute care services. In Victoria, the largest hubs for Island Health employment are in the city’s two main hospitals – Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital.
Because Victoria has a disproportionate number of senior citizens, there are a huge number of care homes and facilities throughout the city. These smaller facilities represent a major employment opportunity for nurses and health care assistants.
Outside hospitals and care homes, there are career opportunities for private practitioners that play a crucial role in the public health system (think optometrists, dentists and ophthalmologists). There are also employers that operate outside the public health system completely, like private care homes, private clinics, private physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, sleep clinics, and more.
Summary of some of Victoria’s larger healthcare employers:
- Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA)
- Royal Jubilee Hospital
- Victoria General Hospital
- Bayshore Healthcare
- Home Instead Senior Care
- FYidoctors
- Tall Tree Health
- LASIK MD
- Sidney All Care Residence
Education
Victoria’s network of public schools, private schools and post-secondary colleges and universities make up a large portion of the overall workforce.
Professors and other staff come from all over to work at the University of Victoria, a world-renowned university that specializes in climate and sustainability, health and wellness, and technology. Roughly 7,000 work at UVic. Other post-secondary schools like Camosun College (1,400) and Royal Roads University (500) also employ a ton of workers.
The BC public school system is divided up into districts, three of which operate in Greater Victoria: Greater Victoria (SD61), Sooke (SD62), and Saanich (SD63). Over 5,000 teachers, administrators and support staff are employed by these three districts.
The private schools in Victoria also make up a significant amount of the total workforce in the education sector. St. Michael’s University School, Glenlyon Norfolk School, Pacific Christian School, and St. Margaret’s School are some of the largest, schooling Victoria’s youth from K through Grade 12.
Summary of some of Victoria’s larger education sector employers:
- Greater Victoria School District
- Saanich School District
- Sooke School District
- University of Victoria
- Camosun College
- St. Michael’s University School
- St. Margaret’s School
Technology
Technology is one of the most exciting and fastest growing industries in Victoria. The industry’s annual revenue of $5.87 billion makes it the largest sector in the city, which employs over 20,000 people across over 1,100 companies. VIATEC’s economic impact report of the tech sector showcases the incredible growth in the last 20 years, with no signs of slowing down.
The thriving tech sector is driven by local universities, federal research, and VIATEC (Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology & Entrepreneurship Council), which acts as a connection and resources hub for the sector. Victoria’s high quality of life and great weather also make the city a prime destination for startups.
While there are some larger tech companies that were born in Victoria or have offices in Victoria, the majority are just small startups with a handful of employees. Some of the major specializations of Victoria’s tech sector include software development, digital media, clean tech, ocean sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
Summary of some of Victoria’s larger technology sector employers:
- Fujitsu
- Harris Computer
- CGI
- Benevity
- Daitan Group
- Redbrick
- Certn
- Red Hat
Professional Services
The professional services sector involves companies that sell their expert knowledge and skills as primarily intangible services. This includes accounting, legal, finance and consulting services, among others. Rather than carrying heavy costs for product development, equipment or land, these companies are human capital intensive.
In Victoria, the professional services sector is a growing one, and is relied upon to support the booming sectors of tech, government and tourism. Many of the most prominent professional services jobs are found in large, multi-national corporations with offices in Victoria, although they don’t make up the entire workforce.
With tech companies excluded, here’s a summary of some of Victoria’s larger professional services sector employers:
- Deloitte
- EY
- PwC
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Bank of Montreal
- Scotiabank
- TD Bank
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
- Baker Tilly
- Grant Thornton
- Pearlman Lindholm
- Horne Coupar Lawyers
Looking for a career in Victoria? Try visiting job boards that specialize in local opportunities, such as the Victoria Chamber, BCjobs.ca, and WorkBC.
