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According to BC Stats, BC’s technology industry employs approximately 70,000 people and generated 14.2 billion in revenues in 2005. More than 13,000 BC-based technology companies are run by single entrepreneurs, while 9,200 businesses employ other people. 

About 80 percent of people working in BC’s high tech sector work in a service industry. The largest of these is the computer and related services industry, which creates 34 percent of the high tech jobs in BC.

BC is a long-time leader in the digital media sector (Electronic Arts, based in Vancouver, develops some of the most popular video games worldwide). The province is now preparing to host a Microsoft software development centre, which will employ 300 people initially, and potentially up to 1,000 people.

Sources:
http://www.bctia.org/files/PDF/2008_TechTalentBC_Labour_Study.pdf
http://www.bctia.org/Knowledge/Industry_Stats/

Technology Sector Growth Projected

The technology industry in BC is predicted to see the creation of an additional 10,000 new jobs in 2008. A 2007 survey by the BCTIA revealed that demand is expected to be highest in executive management, sales management and professionals, marketing, product management, project management, technical management, technical customer service and software engineering.

Technology Industry Labour Shortages

A 2008 labour study by the BCTIA indicated that BC technology companies face barriers to effective recruiting due to skills shortages both in the province and globally.

 
According to the survey, the hardest people to find are intermediate and senior-level programmers, particularly those with skills in Java programming. Project managers are also difficult to hire, and in the new media sector, senior design positions are hard to fill with people who have advanced skills in game design, graphics and animation. 

Source: http://www.bctia.org/files/PDF/2008_TechTalentBC_Labour_Study.pdf