Labour markets are often best understood at a local or regional level where various contributing factors are well understood, sources of labour supply can be characterized, and detailed knowledge of individual facilities exist. The purpose of this regional report is to provide information on the dairy processing industry in the greater Burnaby, British Columbia area so that readers have detailed information and a better understanding of the local dairy processing industry. The profile outlines the demographic and socio-economic characterisitics of the region, the regional labour force, the regional dairy processing industry, and an outlook for the specific dairy processing workforce in the Burnaby region. This regional profile is part of a series of regional reports for the Canadian dairy processing industry, which is a component of a larger labour market information study of dairy processing in Canada.
The region accounts for approximately 40% of dairy processing facilities in British Columbia, and nearly half of the fluid milk establishments in the province.
Dairy processing employment in the region is estimated at approximately 1,078 in 2021 which is actually about 0.1% of the total employment in the area.
Recruitment and retention challenges within this time period are expected to increase as a result of increased labour market tightness.
