Victoriaruns on a handful of strong industries. If you’re job-hunting or weighing a move, here’s where the opportunities (and the big-name employers) are.
Top industries & employers
Provincial government & public administration
BC Public Service, the Legislative Assembly, BC Housing, BC Hydro regional offices, Crown agencies
The capital's defining employer. Ministries are headquartered here rather than in Vancouver, which makes the BC Public Service the largest employer in greater Victoria and gives the city an unusually stable, well-pensioned professional class. Many roles require Canadian citizenship or permanent residence.
Defence & the Pacific fleet
CFB Esquimalt, Maritime Forces Pacific, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, Babcock Canada
Canada's Pacific naval base and the largest single-site employer in the region, with a civilian workforce alongside the uniformed one. The Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt handle submarine and frigate refits — long-cycle work that sustains a skilled trades economy.
Health care
Island Health, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, Saanich Peninsula Hospital
Island Health runs services for all of Vancouver Island from here, so the hospitals serve a catchment far larger than the city. Health care is among the largest employers and is one of the three occupation groups BC's nominee programme now prioritises.
Higher education & ocean science
University of Victoria, Camosun College, Royal Roads University, Ocean Networks Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences
UVic anchors the region's research, and Ocean Networks Canada operates cabled undersea observatories from here. Ocean science is a genuine local specialism built on the geography rather than on policy.
Technology
Latitude Technologies, StarFish Medical, Certn, Semaphore Solutions, Codename Entertainment, Carmanah/Kirkland, VIATEC member firms
Several hundred small and mid-sized firms in health technology, marine and environmental sensing, security software and games, organised around the VIATEC industry association. It is a real sector and a shallow one — few large employers, so a redundancy usually means a smaller pond than in Vancouver.
Tourism, hospitality & marine transport
BC Ferries, Black Ball Ferry Line, Harbour Air, Victoria Clipper, the Fairmont Empress, Butchart Gardens, Ogden Point cruise terminal
A large seasonal economy built on cruise calls at Ogden Point, the American day-trip market and the gardens. It is the reason downtown feels different in February and August, and the reason a great deal of the service workforce is on seasonal contracts.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.