For the second time in three years, Squamish has taken the lead as the best place to work, according to BCBusiness magazine’s annual rankings.
Squamish is in good company — other Sea to Sky communities rounded out the top three.
Winter hugs Howe Sound. Photo: Leigh and Spring McClurg
Whistler took second place while the District of North Vancouver placed third.
“The Sea-to-Sky Corridor owes its strength to several factors, including fast-rising incomes, generous spending on recreation and booming population growth,” reads the BCBusiness article. “Squamish edges out Whistler thanks to one of the province’s busiest home construction markets.”
These rankings were determined by the magazine after it collaborated with Environics Analytics.
The results were based on 2019’s economic outlook for communities across the province.
This news had a positive reception from the District.
“This recognition provides an opportunity for us to highlight some of the new industries that are creating exciting job opportunities for Squamish’s skilled workforce,” said Mayor Karen Elliott in a news release.
“It also reinforces our desirable location, entrepreneurial spirit and our unparalleled lifestyle that truly personifies the Squamish brand – we have so much to offer, and we’re working hard to capture opportunities.”
Vancouver, however, didn't fare so well, dropping to position 31 out of 46 ranked cities, down from number nine last year.
A multitude of factors went into ranking the communities, including:
- average household income
- household income for primary earners under age 35
- five-year income growth
- average household spending on recreation
- average shelter costs
- five-year population growth
- unemployment rate
- average commute time
- average value of primary real estate
- housing starts per 10,000 residents
Here are the full rankings for 2019:
- Squamish
- Whistler
- District of North Vancouver
- Township of Langley
- Kelowna
- Prince Rupert
- City of Langley
- City of North Vancouver
- Fort St. John
- Maple Ridge
- Coquitlam
- Sechelt
- Parksville
- Surrey
- Nanaimo
- Delta
- Terrace
- Port Coquitlam
- Salmon Arm
- Richmond
- Courtenay
- Sidney
- Saanich
- Quesnel
- Chilliwack
- Prince George
- Penticton
- Vernon
- Pitt Meadows
- Dawson Creek
- Vancouver
- Burnaby
- Williams Lake
- Duncan/North Cowichan
- Comox
- Victoria
- Kamloops
- Mission
- Cranbrook
- Abbotsford
- Powell River
- Summerland
- New Westminster
- Campbell River
- Nelson
- Port Alberni
