Job prospects Tour Guide in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "tour guide" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Tour and travel guides (NOC 64320) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

The accommodation and food and sector has a high rate of employee turnover relative to other sectors.

Employment opportunities are influenced by consumer spending levels and the strength of the economy.  Discretionary spending is expected increase in mid-2025. Lower interest rates will bring some relief to B.C. households, which are typically heavy in debt. 

Here are some key facts about Tour and travel guides in British Columbia:

• Approximately 600 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Tour and travel guides mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 44%
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation (NAICS 71): 26%
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 9%
  • Universities (NAICS 6113): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 61% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 39% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 17% of tour and travel guides work all year, while 83% 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 24 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 36% of tour and travel guides are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 62% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 38% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 7% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 31% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 15% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 19% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 20% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 8% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "tour guide" Tour and travel guides (NOC 64320) or across Canada.

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