Final report - Integrated Land Management Bureau

Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006.
Transportation Assessment of the Central & North Coast of BC
TABLE 2-6: ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL INCOME STATISTICS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTH
COAST, 2005
Labour Force
Average
Annual
Earnings*
Unemployment
Rate
Labour Force
Participation
Rate
% of Govt
Transfers in
Income
Prince Rupert Aboriginal $19,643 23.2% 61.30% 29.3%
Prince Rupert Non-Aboriginal $36,214 8.8% 71.60% 11.5%
Prince Rupert Overall $31,481 12.9% 68.30% 14.7%
Kitkatla $9,710 60.0% 46.30% 54.1%
Bella Bella $16,243 20.3% 47.10% 27.2%
Klemtu $14,816 26.3% 45.20% 27.1%
* For people with positive earnings.
While the economic status of Prince Rupert Aboriginal residents is slightly better
than in the outlying First Nations communities, as a group they are economically
much worse off than the city’s non-Aboriginal population. For example, the
Aboriginal unemployment rate in Prince Rupert is 2½ times higher than the
unemployment rate of the non-Aboriginal labour force. In Kitkatla, the
unemployment rate is much higher, 60%. The average income of Aboriginal labour
force participants of Prince Rupert is about one-half that of the income level of
the city’s non-Aboriginal labour force, while the average income in Kitkatla, Bella
Bella and Klemtu is much lower. There is no doubt that proximity to employment
opportunities in an urban centre like Prince Rupert translates to higher income
levels. Nevetheless, Aboriginal residents are not yet fully realizing these benefits.
The unemployment rate is also extremely high in Aboriginal communities of the
LRMP Plan area, ranging from 20.3% in Bella Bella to 60% in Kitkatla in the shown
table, while the labour force participation rates are correspondingly low. The
forestry and wood processing sectors have been neither steady nor significant
sources of employment for Central and North Coast First Nations, although
resources do form the basis for some employment in most or all of the
communities. The tourism sector, where more entry level positions are available
than in many other sectors, has also been a weak source of employment for
Aboriginal persons. The public sector (specifically health and education jobs) is a
major employer in most of the communities of the LRMP Plan area.
Chisholm Consulting 11