General Employment Climate for Engineers in British Columbia
Whilst the Group would like to be of assistance to fellow (or prospective) expatriate engineers, it must be understood that we can only offer a general opinion on current job prospects based on the personal experience of Group members and not offer references or referrals between prospective employers and employees. The Group is not an employment agency and our constitutional mandate does not authorize us to act as one.
That said, you should be aware that the British Columbia economy is largely connected with resource extraction and processing, and the manufacturing sector is relatively small. Engineers willing to settle in a rural or small-town environment should approach the resource companies for production-oriented positions in a mine or mill, or seek employment in Public Works or Utilities. Those seeking to work as consulting engineers designing and building industrial facilities (mines and mills), commercial and strata-title residential buildings, will find most of the larger companies in the Vancouver area. The seat of Provincial Government is Victoria, for those with Civil Service aspirations, although preference is given to Canadian citizens for such jobs. There is a growing computer software industry in the metropolitan Vancouver area.
The general rate of unemployment in the region was 7.1% in October 2004, and is not believed to be any lower in the engineering sector. In engineering, the current trend is away from the traditional employer/employee relationship, and strongly in favour of personal service contracts of a fixed duration, or sub-consultant relationships. This must be taken into consideration when planning an employment strategy for BC.
Another factor not always appreciated is the historical cyclical nature of the economy, which is subject to major boom/bust cycles often related to global raw material and commodity prices. During strong economic periods, engineers are much sought-after and extremely well paid, but these are usually followed by periods of very little available engineering work during which many senior and junior engineers are laid off or must accept assignments offshore. The key is to appreciate that this is all part of the cycle and that demand for engineering services will eventually recover.
The practice of engineering at a level equivalent to that of a UK Chartered Engineer is regulated in BC by law in order to protect public safety. The Engineers Act is administered by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, 200-4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2 (e-mail:
apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca). Registered membership in APEGBC is required by law in order to describe oneself as an "Engineer" here. Membership is NOT automatically granted to Chartered Engineers; the Association is understood to require certified academic transcripts, a period of local experience and a pass in its Professional Practice exam, as a minimum requirement. You should contact the Association direct for confirmation and more details.
We suggest you contact potential employers/clients directly with your resume or business proposal, omitting references to the Group at this time. One on-line resource that we have encountered is
Bcjobs.net, who post vacancies for engineers, technologists and technicians as well as links to other employment agencies.
We apologize if the above seems unnecessarily negative or presents a picture of insurmountability; we would not wish however to give the opposite impression only for you to find when you arrived that you had been misled. However we feel that it is no more difficult to make the transition and become established here than it has been for the last 25 years, provided sufficient commitment is made at the outset. Of the approximately 1000 members who currently comprise the Group, we are sure most would agree the reward in terms of quality of life, has been well worth the effort.
Good luck, and we look forward to the prospect of welcoming you to membership of the Group in due course should you decide to come to British Columbia to live and work..
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