Economic Development: More Jobs Closer to Home

People move to Sooke for many reasons - natural beauty, community, and housing that has been among the most affordable in the CRD.

But many of us leave Sooke every morning to go to work. The 2021 Census reports 1,420 Sooke residents lived and worked in Sooke, while approximately 2,600 travelled elsewhere for work. Local employment opportunities have not kept pace with population growth and that has an impact on traffic and taxes. More jobs closer to home mean fewer daily trips along Highway 14. More commercial development grows the commercial tax base, helping share the cost of municipal services and reducing the burden on residential taxpayers.

So here is some good work underway.

Thanks to provincial funding, the District has a call out for an Employment Lands Strategy. This will identify where businesses can locate and grow, what land should be protected for employment, where infrastructure and servicing are needed, and whether zoning or policy changes could open up new opportunities.

District data shows that in 2024, Sooke had 1,677 businesses, up 5.9% in one year. Many Sooke businesses are small or home-based – an important part of our economy, but generally not part of our commercial tax base. For businesses ready to take the next step, Sooke needs suitable commercial space where they can grow and hire. We also need room for new employers who want to invest here.

For Sooke Together, that’s where this work needs to lead: more opportunities for local businesses to grow, more jobs close to home, a stronger commercial tax base and fewer reasons to leave Sooke every morning.