BCPB Home > Benchmarks > Rankings > Performance Indicator 13: Science Employment

Performance Indicator 13: Science Employment

Where BC Ranks, Provincial Comparison

 (Updated March 5, 2008)
Year

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Rank

4

3

4

4

5

4

5

4

4

5

Performance Indicator Thirteen shows the proportion of a jurisdiction's employment which is comprised of persons working in natural and applied sciences and related occupations. Included in this category are occupations in the physical sciences, engineers, architects, mathematicians, systems analysts, and programmers and associated technical occupations.

British Columbia ranked fifth in the proportion of scientists and engineers to total employment in 2007.

Between 1998 and 2007, the province's proportion grew in five out of 10 years. Canada at large experienced steady increases in the proportion of scientists and engineers to total employment between 1998 and 2001. It suffered declines in 2003 and 2004, and grew again in 2005 through 2007.

Why It's Important
The number of scientists and engineers relative to total employment is one indication of a jurisdiction's success in attracting people who possess knowledge and skills essential to the process of innovation and wealth creation.


>> Other Economic, Innovation and Education targets and indicators