Regional Indicator 2: Taxfilers' Employment Income

	Why It's Important This indicator is a measure of economic activity and individual prosperity. Notes: No update is available this year as Statistics Canada delayed the data release to ensure confidentiality. *Regional BC includes the Abbotsford and Kelowna CMAs.

Regional Indicator Two measures the income earned by British Columbians from employment and self-employment as reported on tax returns to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Growth in real per capita employment income between 1997 and 2006 has been strong and widespread, ranging from a low of 24.6 percent in Vancouver to 26.9 percent in Victoria.

In 1997, real per capita employment income ranged between $13,418 in Regional BC to $16,442 in Vancouver. Regional BC and Vancouver have, respectively, been at the bottom and top of this range since 1990. In 2006, income was $3,520 higher in Regional BC and $4,047 higher in Vancouver than in 1997.

The Northeast and Lower Mainland-Southwest had the highest and second-highest income among the development regions in 2006 and on average between 1997 and 2006.

All eight development regions saw income increases between 1997 and 2006 ranging from 10.9 percent in the North Coast to 51.6 percent in the Northeast.