key industries
Sicamous and the Shuswap region is home to a variety of sectors and industries that align with the variety of landscapes and communities.
The Sicamous and Shuswap region is full of exciting and diverse career opportunities at all levels. The District of Sicamous Development Corporation can help you find your niche whether you are starting out, looking for a career change, relocating or expanding your business.
Our Community Strategic Plan takes strong initiatives to grow and diversify the Sicamous economy. Strategic planning advocates for commercial start-ups and developments that will support economic growth and industry diversity. The District of Sicamous Development Corporation is also able to support established businesses who are looking to expand in the Sicamous area.
Take a look at our top industry sectors below, then explore the rest of our site to learn more about living and working in the Sicamous!
tourism
Sicamous is a key anchor to the Shuswap region. It is a tourism draw and has several companies that help promote awareness of the region as a place to live, work, and play. There are three major houseboat rental companies – Twin Anchors, Sicamous Houseboats and Bluewater Houseboats – that have attracted tourists and potential new residents to the area for years. The new brand “Live More” really speaks to how you can have a great quality of life while you do business, work, or settle into retirement in this picturesque community.
In addition to a busy summer tourism season, Sicamous has the strongest and most developed winter tourism industry within the Shuswap region. This industry is experiencing rapid growth around sledding (snowmobiling). This rapidly expanding winter tourism sector greatly benefits the town. Motels are often booked solid with sledders and skiers throughout the season. There are four nearby snowmobile areas – Blue Lake, Eagle Pass, Owlhead and Queest Mountain – that continue to win awards for their deep powder snow, open bowls, endless meadows, groomed trails and well maintained cabins.
manufacturing
Sicamous offers great possibilities and opportunities for manufacturing aspirations.
Manufacturing is tied for the third spot in leading industries by sector.
As a stop on the Trans-Canada Highway, Sicamous intersects a major transport route that increases opportunities for import, export and warehousing.
Sicamous also has the workforce to support manufacturing, with approximately 30% of the area’s workforce boasting an educational background suitable for the industry. Of these qualified individuals, only 6% are currently working in manufacturing.
Recent achievements in manufacturing include services such as bioenergy and the implementation of a broadband investment plan. These advances will help draw more manufacturing opportunities to the area.
Let’s build rewarding manufacturing opportunities in Sicamous: where prime location collides with a capable workforce.
CONSTRUCTION
Construction is the second largest industry sector in Sicamous. The construction industry has seen several years of growth and there is every indication that this growth will continue.
Around 25% of the workforce in Sicamous has an educational background suitable to fill roles in the construction industry. The skills in the community range from entry level to high level accreditation.
We have seen exponential increases in dollars invested in residential building permits over the last three years.
There is opportunity for commercial construction to accommodate for future manufacturing and warehousing. Sicamous is located on the Trans-Canada Highway, a vital transportation corridor that will see increased traffic following a series of anticipated highway improvements. This generates significant interest in manufacturing in the area.
Architecture will be the way of the future in construction with initiatives for decreasing carbon footprints and supporting infrastructure to accommodate highway improvements and transportation initiatives.
REAL ESTATE
Statistics show that real estate, rentals and leasing compose the most profitable industry in Canada for 2023. With a variety of desirable properties ranging from mountainside to lakefront to riverside, it is no surprise that this is the number one industry by business count in Sicamous!
Sicamous is the perfect spot to break into the market. Housing prices have seen a smooth and consistent rise. Despite rising prices, the Sicamous housing market is still seen as attainable compared to neighbouring communities.
There is a niche in this market to develop and capitalize on opportunities in environmentally-friendly construction and property management.
Many property owners utilize the atmosphere and draw to the area to rent out or lease their properties as supplement income.
MRDT taxes utilize dollars earned from these rentals to promote tourism and boost economic growth in the community.
Designated areas for bed and breakfasts and short term rentals to ensure that opportunities for long-term rentals and year-round living remain. This combination of rental and living options maintains economic stability in the area.
As Sicamous is situated between lake and lush mountainside, the District of Sicamous Development Corporation has no shortage of ambition to promote it as a four season Haven for visitors and residents alike.
In Sicamous, about two thirds of dwellings are single detached homes, while mobile homes and townhouses are also present in the housing stock. Roughly 45% of homes in this municipality were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, while most of the remaining buildings were constructed in the 1980s and the 1990s. This municipality also has a good choice of housing sizes; it is quite easy to find homes ranging from lofts to four or more bedrooms.
Creative industries
There is no shortage of talent in the Sicamous community!
The amount of small business entrepreneurs in Sicamous demonstrates the imaginative spark that exists here. There is so much opportunity in the creative sector and no better time to dive in.
10% of youth and residents in Sicamous have a background in or are entering fields of education considered to have creative origins.
While only accounting for 2% of the industry sector, the creative world is on a steady incline.
Sicamous offers a charming downtown venue for performing arts and local, community-centered spaces for art classes.
Local businesses and practices demonstrate holistic approaches to health and medicine.
The creative industry is prime in Sicamous. It is the perfect place to let your imagination soar while you tap into original ideas. Once you’ve done that, set your art free to flourish in this inspired community.
Tech
Current vested interests and initiatives in Sicamous are working to bring in higher broadband to support more remote work capabilities and tech-based business operations. There is such opportunity for growth in tech and remote work in Sicamous. Where else would you want to log-in from?
While 6% of the population reports having a specific background or current employment in tech, the community in Sicamous is showing increased interest in pursuing tech-focused studies.
Approximately 4% of the businesses in Sicamous are connected to the tech industry. This means that the work to increase broadband and connectivity creates endless opportunities to upscale current industries and develop new tech-related ventures.
Increased access to tech always means increased opportunity to invent, implement, upscale, redesign and essentially build markets and business.
This is an area on the verge of going viral. It is an investor’s dream to get in during the inception!
