B.C.’s Top Employers shift to skills-based hiring as one million job openings loom in province

British Columbia employers are preparing for more than one million job openings over the next decade by overhauling hiring practices and investing in employee development, according to the organizers of BC’s Top Employers.

The 2026 winners, announced today by Mediacorp Canada Inc., are moving toward skills-based hiring and expanding professional development programs as population growth slows and competition for workers intensifies.

“Employers selected for this year’s list recognize the demographic realities facing British Columbia’s labour market,” said Cypress Weston, assistant editor at Mediacorp.

Where the jobs will be

The province’s Labour Market Outlook projects job openings will concentrate in five sectors: healthcare and social assistance (19 per cent), professional, scientific and technical services (15 per cent), retail trade (10 per cent), construction (8 per cent), and finance, insurance and real estate (5 per cent).

The challenge extends beyond filling positions. Reduced immigration is contributing to slower population growth, resulting in fewer new workers entering the labour force.

Informal learning takes priority

This year’s winners are emphasizing informal training methods alongside traditional programs. Many employers are building mentorship frameworks and peer-to-peer learning systems that create advancement pathways regardless of employee background.

“Many of this year’s winners encourage employees to look to their colleagues for guidance on developing the skills needed to succeed in their workplace,” said Richard Yerema, executive editor of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. “There’s a degree of built-in trust that comes from information conveyed by a peer, and leading employers in British Columbia understand that this kind of internal development is just as critical as traditional training investments.”

These learning models are being adapted for hybrid and remote work environments, with workplace flexibility becoming central to employer value propositions.

About the competition

BC’s Top Employers, now in its 21st year, evaluates organizations on eight criteria: workplace, work atmosphere and social, health, financial and family benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and skills development, and community involvement.

The competition is open to any employer with its head office or principal place of business in British Columbia. The full list was published today in the Vancouver Sun and on Eluta.ca.

Full list of winners