Job prospects Planner, Urban And Regional in British Columbia

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "planner, urban and regional" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Limited for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Some physical duties of this occupation could be performed by automation technologies, which may enable workers to do their jobs more efficiently. 

The adoption of new technologies such as robotics (including autonomous vehicles, drones, sensors) integrated with digital innovations are expected to bolster industries including construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and trade.

Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in British Columbia:

• Approximately 2,900 people work in this occupation.
• Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 39%
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 12%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 5%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 89% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 79% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 11% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 51% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 49% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 8% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 31% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 47% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology