About The Service Economy In B.C., Canada
A significant component of British Columbia (B.C.), Canada’s economy is generated by the sales and service sector: nearly 76% of B.C.’s Gross Domestic Product comes from service-producing industries. Local businesses provide services to other businesses (B2B) or directly to customers (B2C) by tapping into the available talent pool of skilled and educated workers. The focus is on people interacting with people and serving the customer which requires expertise and high-touch capabilities. Various forms of professional services, such as professional sales, distribution, legal, entertainment, hospitality, financial, engineering, or technology-related services create opportunities to build a business in B.C.
B.C.’s Service Industry Advantages
SKILEED WORKFORCE
British Columbia offers over 2.8 million educated, entrepreneurial workers, ideal for high-touch services like sales, legal, engineering, and tech support. Immigration pathways enable talent attraction, supporting B2B and B2C operations.
STRATEGIC LOCATION
The province’s West Coast position links to the U.S. Pacific Northwest via the Cascadia corridor and serves as a gateway to Asia-Pacific markets through the Port of Vancouver. This boosts service exports, which reached $32.5 billion in 2018 (44% of total exports).
GROWTH DRIVERS
Knowledge-based services in tech, tourism, and professional fields thrive on innovation, high wages (e.g., tech exceeds provincial average by 75%), and policy support for business ease. Small businesses in services further enhance local innovation and job creation.
Discover British Columbia’s Economic Advantages
Business Expansion Services
At Trade and Invest British Columbia we can provide up-to-date information about the business environment in British Columbia for business seeking to expand to Canada. We can also assist with planning your visit to business locations throughout the province, including available sites and facilities, with introductions to community leaders.