Work

Whether you prefer to work with your hands, your mind, or your heart, there are plenty of opportunities across the Shuswap.

Independent, entrepreneurial folks will find kindred spirits here. Nearly one-fifth of the local labour force is self-employed, and the number of home-based businesses in the area continues to grow.

Our primary industries – trades, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services – are stable, with room for expansion and innovation. A wide variety of professional services support these and other local industries, reaching beyond the Shuswap. Business services are concentrated in Salmon Arm and Sicamous, and there’s good access to the nearby Okanagan communities of Vernon and Kelowna and Thompson Country’s city of Kamloops. The Shuswap’s cultural sector presents opportunities for artists and creative professionals, and the region’s tourism industry continues to diversify and expand to a four-season destination.  Health and education also provide strong opportunities for employment.

The traditional industries that have helped shaped our region’s identity – agriculture and forestry – continue to play an important economic role here.

Workers, entrepreneurs, and business owners looking to broaden their knowledge and skills can find post-secondary and continuing education in the Shuswap, with college diplomas, university studies, trades and technical certifications available through Okanagan College’s Salmon Arm campus. Other support and resources for workers are available online and in-person through WorkBC.