Jobs & Economy in Kamloops
Who hires here? Major employers, industry outlooks, and the economic heartbeat of the Thompson Valley.
A Diversified Regional Economy
Kamloops has evolved considerably from its origins as a resource extraction town. While forestry, mining, and agriculture remain important, the city now functions as the primary service hub for the entire Thompson-Nicola region — a catchment area of over 130,000 people. Healthcare, education, transportation, retail, and construction are all major employment sectors, and the economy has shown consistent resilience through national downturns.
The city's strategic location at the intersection of Highway 1, Highway 5, and Highway 97 — combined with the convergence of CN and CPKC rail lines — makes it a genuine logistics hub. This geography has attracted distribution centres, warehousing operations, and trucking companies that provide stable, well-paying employment across skill levels.
Unemployment in Kamloops has historically tracked below the BC provincial average. The city's diversified employment base means that downturns in one sector (such as the periodic softwood lumber disputes that affect forestry) are cushioned by stability in healthcare, government, and education employment.
Top Employers
Interior Health Authority
The largest single employer in Kamloops. Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) recently completed a major expansion with the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower, adding hundreds of beds and significantly increasing staffing needs. Demand for nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, and administrative staff is constant and well-compensated.
Thompson Rivers University
TRU employs hundreds of faculty, researchers, and support staff. With approximately 25,000 students (including distance learners), TRU is a major economic engine. The university's continued growth in international student enrollment and graduate programs has driven sustained hiring across departments.
Transportation & Logistics
CN Rail and CPKC (formerly CP Rail) both operate major yards in Kamloops, employing engineers, conductors, mechanics, and operations staff. The trucking sector is equally significant — major carriers like Bison Transport, Mullen Trucking, and dozens of regional operators maintain operations here. Distribution centres for national retailers add further employment.
Resource & Manufacturing
The Domtar Pulp Mill (now Resolute Forest Products) remains a significant employer. New Afton Mine (copper-gold) and Highland Valley Copper (one of Canada's largest open-pit copper mines, 45 minutes from Kamloops) provide high-paying trades and technical employment. Mining sector wages in the region are among the highest in BC.
Government & Public Sector
The City of Kamloops, School District 73, the Province of BC (through various ministries), and the federal government collectively employ thousands of Kamloops residents. Public sector employment provides stability, benefits, and pension plans that are attractive to long-term residents.
Retail & Hospitality
Kamloops serves as the retail hub for a large surrounding region. Aberdeen Mall, Sahali Mall, and the growing Aberdeen retail corridor attract shoppers from as far as 200 kilometres away. The hospitality sector, supported by Sun Peaks Resort (45 minutes north), generates significant seasonal and year-round employment.
Trades & Construction
Construction has been one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in Kamloops over the past decade. The city's population growth, combined with major infrastructure projects (the RIH expansion, new school construction, highway improvements), has created sustained demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, and general labourers.
Trades wages in Kamloops are competitive with the rest of BC. A journeyman electrician or plumber typically earns $45 to $65 per hour. Red Seal certification is highly valued and opens doors across the province. TRU's trades programs and the Kamloops-based Industry Training Authority partnerships make it relatively accessible to enter or advance in the trades here.
For families with teenagers considering career paths, the trades-to-employment pipeline in Kamloops is genuinely strong. The dual-credit programs at NorKam and Westsyde Secondary allow students to earn high school credits and trade hours simultaneously — a significant head start on a well-paying career.
Remote Work in Kamloops
Kamloops has become one of the most popular destinations in BC for remote workers relocating from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The combination of dramatically lower housing costs, a genuine outdoor lifestyle, and reliable high-speed internet infrastructure makes it a compelling choice for knowledge workers who no longer need to be in a major city.
Telus PureFibre is available in most established neighbourhoods, offering gigabit download speeds that are more than adequate for video conferencing, cloud work, and data-intensive tasks. Rogers (formerly Shaw) provides cable internet as an alternative. Rural areas like Barnhartvale and Rayleigh may have more limited options — always verify connectivity at a specific address before committing.
The city has invested in co-working infrastructure as well. Spaces like Venture Kamloops and several private co-working facilities provide desk space, meeting rooms, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and remote workers who want a professional environment outside the home.
If you're a remote worker considering Kamloops, the math is compelling: a $200,000 salary that was barely enough to own a home in Vancouver buys a genuinely comfortable lifestyle in Kamloops, with money left over. Explore our neighbourhood guides to find the area that best suits your lifestyle, or use our mortgage calculator to model what your budget can achieve here.
Finding Work in Kamloops: Practical Resources
The Kamloops job market is active but relatively small compared to major urban centres. For professional and skilled trades positions, the most effective approach is a combination of online job boards (Indeed, WorkBC, LinkedIn) and direct outreach to employers. Many positions in Kamloops are filled through referrals and local networks before they're ever posted publicly, so connecting with the local business community early is worthwhile.
Venture Kamloops, the city's economic development office, maintains a job board and provides resources for people relocating to the area. The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce hosts regular networking events that are genuinely useful for making connections. The TRU Career Centre is an excellent resource even for non-students, as it maintains relationships with local employers and hosts job fairs.
For trades workers, the Kamloops and District Labour Council and the local offices of major unions (BCGEU, CUPE, USW) can provide information on current demand and wage rates in specific trades. The construction sector in particular has been consistently active, with ongoing residential development in Aberdeen, Juniper Ridge, and the Pineview Valley area creating sustained demand for skilled tradespeople.
Healthcare workers should contact Interior Health directly. The region has persistent demand for nurses, allied health professionals, and physicians, and Interior Health offers recruitment incentives including relocation assistance and rural practice bonuses for positions in underserved areas. Royal Inland Hospital and the Kamloops Mental Health and Substance Use centre are both significant employers.
Commute Times
Kamloops is often described as a "20-minute city" — and it's largely accurate. You can drive from almost any residential neighbourhood to the downtown core, Royal Inland Hospital, TRU, or Aberdeen Mall in under 20 minutes outside of peak hours. Rush hour exists, but it bears no resemblance to the gridlock of Vancouver or Calgary. Most residents consider the commute situation one of the city's best quality-of-life features.
The exception is the Highway 1 corridor during summer tourist season and winter storm events, when delays can extend significantly. For those commuting to Highland Valley Copper or other outlying employers, a 45-minute to 60-minute drive is typical. Ready to explore which neighbourhoods put you closest to your workplace? Our complete moving guide covers everything you need to know before relocating.