Key Summary
- Burnaby is located in British Columbia, Canada, and is a hub for a region with a population of approximately 2,369,943.
- 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. Manufacturing overall accounts for approximately 6% of employment.
- By the end of this decade (2030), it is estimated that 313 new hires will be required for the regional dairy processing industry, with 65% of this requirement due to replacement of current workers (e.g., retirements).
- Recruitment and retention challenges within this time period are expected to increase as a result of increased labour market tightness.
key stats
labour market tightness ratings
LMI report series
Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) has developed this regional profile of the Burnaby, BC dairy processing as one within a series of 11 regional reports for the Canadian dairy processing industry. The regional report series is one component of a larger labour market information study of dairy processing within the context of an overall study of the Canadian food and beverage processing sector.
https://fpsc-ctac.com/lmi-reports/
objectives
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 characteristics 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.
methods
The methods used to develop the regional profiles included an extensive review of Statistics Canada reports and data that contributed to profile the industry, and project growth in production and employment at the regional level. In addition, the regional profiles benefitted from a review of other primary and secondary data that enabled the research team to estimate potential labour demand for specific regions, and to identify key industry trends. The “region” of Burnaby, British Columbia focuses on a catchment radius of a one-hour commute to dairy establishments to estimate the approximate distance of maximum commuting distance for potential labour force.
demographic characteristics
Burnaby, British Columbia is a hub for a regional population of approximately 2,369,943 with a labour force of approximately 1,332,318 and accounts for approximately 46% of the British Columbia population.
Population Summary
| Burnaby | British Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2,369,943 | 5,201,000 |
| Total Labour Force | 1,332,318 | 2,848,600 |
| Total Employment | 1,233,223 | 2,652,100 |
Prism Economics and Analysis, 2021
Population by Age Group
Burnaby region’s population age distribution is similar to the province with 16% in the traditional retirement age category of 65 years or older compared with 18% of the British Columbia population. Similar proportions of the Burnaby region are in the pre-retirement age category of 55 to 64 years of age (13% compared to 15% for British Columbia). The proportion of the classic core working age population (25–54) is 43% in the Burnaby region compared with 41% in British Columbia overall.
Population Diversity
| Burnaby | British Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Immigrants Share of Population |
854,160 39% |
1,292,675 28% |
| Not Canadian Citizens Share of Population |
273,335 13% |
421,935 9% |
| Visible Minority Share of Population |
1,028,635 47% |
1,381,235 30% |
| Aboriginal Identity Share of Population |
57,370 3% |
270,585 6% |
The diversity of population according to immigrant status and visible minorities is significantly higher for the Burnaby region compared with British Columbia overall. The share of population who were immigrants in 2016 was 39% compared with 28% in BC, and self-identified visible minorities made up 47% of the Burnaby population compared with 30% of British Columbia. There were larger proportions of the region’s population who were not Canadian citizens (13%) compared to BC overall (9%).
Population Mobility (5 years)
| Burnaby | British Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-migrants Share of Population |
471,975 53% |
940,895 51% |
| Migrants Share of Population |
422,140 47% |
908,535 49% |
| Internal migrants Share of Population |
267,750 63% |
672,805 74% |
| Intraprovincial Share of Population |
213,075 80% |
503,685 75% |
| Interprovincial Share of Population |
54,690 20% |
169,115 25% |
| External migrants Share of Population |
154,365 37% |
235,730 26% |
According to the 2016 Census, there was similar mobility within the population of Burnaby region (47%) compared with British Columbia overall (49%), meaning that there was a similar proportion of people moving into the region within the previous 5 years. The majority of mobility in the region was due to internal migrants (63%), with the vast majority being intraprovincial (80%). External migrants from outside of Canada was higher (37%) compared with British Columbia (26%).
Indigenous Communities
| First Nation | Reserve(s) | Location | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musqueam | Musqueam No. 2 | West of Vancouver | 1,474 |
| Sea Island No. 2 | At the Outlet of an arm of the Fraser River | ||
| Squamish | Mission No. 1 | By City of North Vancouver | 4,383 |
| Capilano No. 5 | North End of Lions Gate Bridge | ||
| Kitsilano No. 5 | Located in the City of Vancouver, Near English Bay | ||
| Total | 5,857 | ||
In the surrounding areas, there are two First Nations with five communities with a total population of approximately 5,857 community members. Overall, approximately 3% of the region’s population self-identify as Aboriginal according to the 2016 Census, which is slightly lower compared to the overall rate of 6% for the province.
socio-economic characteristics
Educational Attainment
The Burnaby regional population has similar rates of post-secondary participation compared with British Columbia overall. Approximately 56% report having some form of post-secondary diploma, certificate or degree compared with 60% of BC overall.
Average Employment Income
Average employment income among Burnaby regional residents was approximately 6% higher in 2015 compared with British Columbia overall according to Census 2016. The average employment income for Burnaby regional residents was approximately $45,941 compared with $43,339 for BC overall. The average government transfers was approximately 13% lower for Burnaby region residents at $6,291 compared with $7,207 for BC overall in 2015.
Approximately 65% of the Burnaby region population are homeowners, with a similar proportion (69%) reporting spending less than 30% of their income on shelter costs in 2016. The average monthly housing costs for renters was lower at approximately $1,239 compared to home owners at approximately $1,387.
Housing Costs
Housing Composition
regional labour force
The size of the regional labour force in 2021 was over 1,332,000 which was approximately 47% of British Columbia’s overall labour force. The participation rate in the region is somewhat higher (65.7%) compared to British Columbia (63.6%). Among those in the labour force, the unemployment rates were similar (7.3% vs. 6.9% in BC overall).
Labour Force Characteristics
| Burnaby | British Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| In Labour Force | 1,332,318 | 2,848,600 |
| Employed | 1,233,223 | 2,652,100 |
| Unemployed | 99,095 | 196,200 |
| Participation Rate | 65.7% | 63.6% |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 59.2% |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4% | 6.9% |
Prism Economics and Analysis, 2021
Labour force projections indicate an approximate 13% overall growth in the next decade, rising from approximately 1.3 million in 2021 to 1.5 million by 2030. The anticipated age composition will see the largest increases occurring in the core group of workers aged 25 to 54 years old.
Labour Force Characteristics
Labour Force by Industry
| Industry | Regional Labour Force | % of Labour Force |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 160,268 | 12% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 151,419 | 11% |
| Retail trade | 147,707 | 11% |
| Construction | 89,600 | 7% |
| Educational services | 88,299 | 7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 85,905 | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 82,557 | 6% |
The largest proportions of the Burnaby regional labour force are working in health care and social assistance (12%), with a similar proportion in retail trade (11%) and professional, scientific and technical services (11%). The manufacturing industry accounts for 6% of the regional labour force and is the sector within which the dairy processing sector would be categorized.
Job Characteristics by Industry (British Columbia overall)
| British Columbia | Job Vacancy Rate | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4.7% | $24.18 |
| Food manufacturing | 4.4% | $19.78 |
| Accommodation and food services | 7.6% | $15.92 |
| Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services | 5.7% | $20.67 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 4.7% | $33.45 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5.6% | $28.18 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 3.5% | $20.28 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5.2% | $25.40 |
Although not available at the regional level, an examination of the British Columbia vacancy rate and average hourly wage data by industry gives some indication for the region as to the potential opportunities and challenges in recruiting and retaining sufficient labour for the dairy processing industry. The job vacancy rate for food manufacturing is similar at 4.4% when compared to all industries at 4.7%. The average hourly wage ($19.78) is notably lower than that for all industries ($24.18), but significantly higher than the minimum wage in British Columbia of $15.65 (as of June 1st, 2022).
dairy processing sector regional profile
Within the greater Burnaby region, there are 23 dairy processing establishments. The region accounts for approximately 40% of the dairy processing facilities in British Columbia. Regional employment in the dairy processing sector is estimated in 2021 at 1,078, with the largest proportions of the workforce in management, finance, sales or administrative positions (495; 46%), and trades (219; 20%). Other sizeable proportions of the regional dairy workforce are found in the skilled/semi-skilled occupation group (184; 17%).
Dairy Processing Establishments (2021)
Dairy Processing Employment (2021)
| Occupation Group | # Employed |
|---|---|
| Entry-level Labourers | 80 |
| Management, Finance, Sales, Admin | 495 |
| Other | 28 |
| Product Development and QC | 71 |
| Skilled/Semi-Skilled | 184 |
| Trades | 219 |
| Total | 1,078 |
dairy processing workforce outlook
Dairy processing employment in the Burnaby region is expected to grow by approximately 10.2% over the upcoming decade, rising from 1,078 in 2021 to 1,188 by 2030—a change of approximately 110. However, the overall hiring requirements will be substantially larger due to the need to replace workers as they retire or leave the industry for various reasons. The actual hiring requirement is expected to be in the range of 313 workers. Anticipated growth will account for 110 new hires (35%) while the remaining 203 new hires (65%) will be needed due to replacement requirements. The largest hiring requirements will occur in the second half of the decade in 2026–2030. From the demographic analysis, the number of youth new entrants into the industry likely available to fill these new hire positions is under 5 per year. This suggests that hiring requirements will need to consider other labour supply sources in order to meet the demand, largely attributable to labour replacement requirements (retirements).
Total Dairy Processing Workforce Outlook
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Force | 1,088 | 1,112 | 1,142 | 1,157 | 1,171 | 1,181 | 1,197 | 1,214 | 1,230 | 1,250 |
| Employment | 1,078 | 1,076 | 1,100 | 1,117 | 1,129 | 1,141 | 1,153 | 1,166 | 1,177 | 1,188 |
| Net Hiring Requirement | 12 | 12 | 36 | 36 | 27 | 34 | 38 | 41 | 39 | 38 |
| Employment Growth | 0 | -2 | 24 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 |
| Replacement | 12 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Youth New Entrants | 27 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Dairy Processing Employment Outlook
| Occupation Group | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management, Finance, Sales, and Administration | 495 | 511 | 522 | 531 | 536 | 542 | 548 | 554 | 560 | 565 |
| Entry-level Labourers | 80 | 75 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 83 |
| Other | 28 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Product Development and Quality Control | 71 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 71 |
| Skilled/Semi-Skilled | 184 | 187 | 191 | 195 | 197 | 199 | 201 | 203 | 205 | 207 |
| Trades | 219 | 208 | 213 | 216 | 218 | 220 | 223 | 225 | 227 | 229 |
| Total | 1,078 | 1,076 | 1,100 | 1,117 | 1,129 | 1,141 | 1,153 | 1,166 | 1,177 | 1,188 |
Dairy Processing Hiring Requirement Outlook
| Occupation Group | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management, Finance, Sales, and Administration | 6 | 23 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
| Entry-level Labourers | 1 | -4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Other | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Product Development and Quality Control | 2 | -5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Skilled/Semi-Skilled | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Trades | 2 | -9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Total | 12 | 12 | 36 | 36 | 27 | 34 | 38 | 41 | 39 | 38 |
The types of workers that will be needed for the Burnaby region dairy processing industry vary slightly year to year according to estimates, yet across the decade, the largest proportion of new hires will be within the occupations aligned with management, finance, sales and administration with a total of 169 new workers needed, accounting for approximately 54% of the total hiring requirements between 2021 and 2030. Similar numbers of trades (43; 14%), skilled/semi-skilled (35; 11%), and product development and quality control (31; 10%) workers will be needed. This is of particular concern given the more extensive training requirements for these, combined with the increasing competition for these occupations from other industries.
labour market tightness
Labour market tightness is a measure of the share of the annual supply change that occurs after accounting for available new entrants. Recruitment challenges increase as the proportion of workers needing to be recruited from other industries, occupations, and geographic regions rises. Recruitment challenges are exacerbated when tightness in other industries exceeds that of the dairy sector.
Reading the Rankings
Labour markets have tightened significantly in recent years and what were previously periodic recruitment challenges have now become permanent challenges faced by employers in all sectors of the economy. Given this reality, the ranks are intended to be interpreted in relation to recruitment and retention conditions experienced over the previous five years. The analysis of labour market tightness uses a relative ranking system:
For the Burnaby region’s dairy processing sector, the labour market tightness rating increases towards the end of the decade. As of 2028, this will likely result in the industry experiencing more challenges in recruitment and retention than in previous years.
Labour Market Tightness Ratings 2021-2030: Burnaby Region
| 2021 | 1 – Less Tightness |
| 2022 | 2 – Normal Tightness |
| 2023 | 2 – Normal Tightness |
| 2024 | 2 – Normal Tightness |
| 2025 | 2 – Normal Tightness |
| 2026 | 2 – Normal Tightness |
| 2027 | 2 – Normal Tightness |
| 2028 | 3 – Greater Tightness |
| 2029 | 3 – Greater Tightness |
| 2030 | 3 – Greater Tightness |
