SIZE
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2012,
the number of small businesses
in British Columbia climbed
#
1
SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE
1.2%
55%
of all private-sector
jobs in BC — the 2nd
highest share in Canada.
Real estate led all sectors
for small business growth
in BC (2007-2012).
BC leads Canada in
the number of small
businesses per capita.
THE KOOTENAY and NORTHEAST
96%
of BC’s high-tech
businesses have
fewer than 50
employees.
-16.3% -14.1%
regions experienced the largest decline
in the # of small businesses (2007-2012).
BC’S SMALL BUSINESSES
GENERATED
~26%
Regions with most growth in #
of small businesses (2007-2012):
Thompson-Okanagan (5.3%)
and Vancouver Island/Coast (3.2%).
of the province’s GDP in 2012
EXPORTS
British Columbia’s small businesses
shipped approximately $12.2 billion
worth of merchandise to international
destinations in 2011, accounting for
almost 42% of the total value of
goods exported from the province.
85%
1.4%
but only
of all exporters in BC are
small businesses (firms with
fewer than 50 workers).
of BC’s small businesses
are involved in exporting
goods to