The Vancouver region is comprised of the Economics Region (ER) of Lower Mainland Southwest and the Census Divisions (CDs) of Fraser Valley, Greater Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, and Squamish Lillooet. The region’s GDP was an estimated $155 billion in 2018, 8% of which was generated by the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is also a major employer in the region, accounting for 6% of the total labour force, including less than 1% from automotive manufacturing.

The region has a positive economic outlook, with annual GDP growth of at least 2.8% projected through 2030. However, the region’s manufacturing sector is expected to see its GDP growth slow in the coming years.

The Vancouver region’s population was an estimated 3 million in 2018. Healthy population growth is expected in the region through 2025 before slowing in the latter half of the next decade. Population growth will likely be driven primarily by migration into the region as a declining birth rate means little natural population change. The region is expected to see an aging trend in its population, with the share of the population aged 65 years and over projected to increase from 16% in 2016 to 20% by 2030. The region is also expected to see its unemployment fall from 5.9% in 2016 to 4.7% by 2020 before stabilizing over the coming decade.

The Vancouver region’s automotive manufacturing industry employed an estimated 610 workers in 2018, based on findings from industry contacts, company websites, industry literature and other sources of publicly available data.