demographics
04. demographics
Younger, part-time service sector workers have been hit hardest by the Great Suppression as international migration slows to a trickle.
THE COLD, HARD TRUTH FOR BC’S YOUTH
In a typical month, about a quarter of British Columbia’s workforce comprises workers under the age of 30. This demographic segment has a distinct employment profile, associated with higher- than-average unemployment rates and lower-than-average (often hourly) incomes in part-time, hospitality sector positions. It’s no wonder, then, that our response to the rapidly-evolving pandemic impacted younger workers disproportionately. Strict social-distancing rules meant no more strolling from store to store along Robson Street or in Metrotown, no more morning coffees at the local cafe, and severe limits on traveling resulting in hotels becoming no-
go zones—all typical places of work for the under-30 cohort. As a result, 45% of British Columbia’s job losses between February and April were realized in the under-30 group—almost double the share of jobs they occupied in February. The good news is that as the economy has begun to open back up since then, 58% of the recovered jobs have been those associated with workers under the age of 30. As noted throughout this report, our full economic recovery is many months away, so while this is a good start, continued consideration (and government support) should be given to the impacts of the downturn on this group—as well, of course, as on everyone else.
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