Local Workforce

Why monitor this indicator?

Whistler has a target that 75% of the labour force will live in Whistler by 2020. Having a local workforce enriches community life through increased potential for shared interactions, strengthened social capital as well as a more vibrant local community character. An employee living locally also enhances the visitor experience by enabling Whistler to provide more authentic experiences. Finally, living in the community where one works contributes less to commuting air quality issues and emissions of greenhouse gases.

What does this indicator measure?

This indicator measures the percentage of Whistler employees living within Whistler during the winter season.

Export data to Excel

Indicator Definition	Proportion of employed labour force that both lives and works in Whistler
Calculation	Employers were asked "How many of your total employees including management lived in Whistler during the past winter season?" Sum these results and divide by the total number of reported full time equivalent employees.
Time Period	Snapshot
Collection Frequency	Annually
Source	WHA, Housing Needs Assessment

1 year trend Up towards vision
3 year average trend Up towards vision

Latest Analysis

In 2008, employers reported that 79% of their employees lived in Whistler during the 2007/08 winter season.
The three year average percentage of employees living locally increased by 1%,and the one year average increased by 1%.
The 2008 data indicates there are also more workers overall living in Whistler than most years.
Census data from 2001 shows that the proportion of the workforce living in Whistler as of May that year was 65%, 10% or so lower than recorded in the Whistler Housing Study of the same year and 6% lower than recorded by the census in 1996. As the survey is conducted in May, this decrease likely represented a loss of more permanent residents to other Sea to Sky communities to 2001.

What You Can Do

At Home

Housing costs represent the largest single cost item for residents. Sign up (at no cost) to rent or purchase a price controlled Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) apartment or townhouse.
Encourage the development of more WHA housing.

At Work

Rent or purchase quality housing in Whistler to lease to employees at a reasonable price. Available housing in Whistler helps to attract employees and reduces the chance that highway delays will prevent them from making it to work.