BC Regional Socio-Economic Profiles & Indices	For more information contact Zhila Kashaninia (250) 356-7870

Important Note:

Because of revised population estimates, comparisons to past editions are not possible.

Socio-Economic Profiles

The profiles consist of charts and tables for the 26 Regional Districts, 84 Local Health Areas, 16 Health Service Delivery Areas, 5 Health Authorities, 8 Development Regions, 15 College Regions, and 57 School Districts within the Province of British Columbia. Also included are the special geographies of the Columbia Basin Trust, Georgia and Fraser Basins.

Each region contains the following information:

1. Map and communities
2. Demographic profile
3. Economic hardship
4. Labour market structure
5. Education concerns
6. Crime
7. Health problems
8. Children at risk
9. Youth at risk

The data is presented in a format that allows comparison to other regions in the province and to B.C. overall.

Socio-Economic Indices

The socio-economic indices summarize social and economic conditions over a wide variety of indicators into a single composite index for each region within the province. When viewed together, these indices provide a summary measure of the relative successes and challenges across all regions of the province. The indices are intended only to flag regions that may be experiencing higher levels of socio-economic stress relative to neighbouring areas. By themselves they don't tell us why a particular community or region is doing poorly or well, but rather form a necessary first step in determining the causal factors underlying the observed conditions.

The Indicators

Four basic indicators of regional hardship are presented, each a composite of a weighted combination of three or four variables. These four indicators are:

• Index of Human Economic Hardship
• Index of Crime
• Index of Health Problems
• Index of Education Concerns

Two additional indicators highlighting target groups are also presented:

• Children at Risk
• Youth at Risk

A final summary of the six indicators is presented as the:

• Overall Regional Socio-Economic Index

In addition to the data variables that compose the six indicators, supplementary data variables have been compiled for background information, but have not been directly included in the calculation of the index. Click here for a complete list of the data variables that make up the various indices.

For a report describing the methodology and data sources used in the calculation of the various indices click here.

For research papers, background, and external review, click here.

For a glossary of terms, click here.

Articles and Useful Links

An overview of the Socio-Economic Profiles and Indices

Cross college regions

• Foundation of Our Future: Education and Well-Being of Children and Youth in British Columbia

Cross health geographies

• A Profile of Youth in British Columbia through the BC Stats Socio-Economic Lens

Individual Health Authority reviews where the emphasis is education and health

• Part 1 - Interior Health
• Part 2 - Fraser Health
• Part 3 - Vancouver Coastal Health
• Part 4 - Vancouver Island Health
• Part 5 - Northern Health

See also Population Health, Community Health Profiles - Fraser Health

Notes

Sponsors for 2010/2011 cycle

The profiles and indices are produced by BC Stats with funding support from the:

• Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation,
• Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation,
• Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development,
• Ministry of Children and Family Development,
• Ministry of Regional Economic and Skills Development (now called Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation),
• Ministry of Social Development, and
• the Office of the Provincial Health Officer