Economic Overview

Demographics: A Growing, Young and Diverse City

568,322

Surrey's Population

62%

of Surrey residents speak a language other than English or French

45%

Of Surrey's Population are Immigrants

Population Growth in Surrey: Surrey has a young and diverse population and is rapidly growing. The City currently has 21% of Metro Vancouver's regional population and is projected to become home to a million people within the next two to three decades.

Under 19-Year-Old Population in Surrey: Surrey is also home to a strong future workforce, with 25% of the region’s under 19-year-old population living in Surrey. Our two provincially-funded universities (Simon Fraser University & Kwantlen Polytechnic University) are training this young and diverse group to take on the jobs of tomorrow, with the  University of British Columbia in the midst of planning an expansion into Surrey.

Temporary Residents and Knowledge of Unofficial Languages in Surrey: Surrey is a diverse city, with 45% immigrants and a total of 62% who speak a language other than English or French.  

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Two graphs depicting temporary residents in Surrey and the knowledge of unofficial languages in Surrey

Our Labour Force

65.8%

of Surrey’s population are in the labour force

$113,000

Median Family Income

63%

of the City’s workforce live and work in Surrey

61.5%

of Surrey's workforce have post-secondary education

Surrey's Workforce by Home City: As of 2021, 65.8% of the City’s population are in the labour force. Surrey provides work opportunities for its residents and nearby regions, with 63% of Surrey’s workforce living and working in the City, and the rest coming from adjacent cities such as Vancouver, Burnaby and Langley. 

Surrey saw a 22% employment growth in the past 10 years, and the number of jobs is projected to grow by 16% over the next ten. Household income in Surrey has also been increasing. The median household income grew by 27% in Surrey between 2015 and 2020, with the share of individuals with employment income over $90k increasing over the same period. 

Post-Secondary Degrees Among Surrey Residents: Growing rapidly in the past 5 years, 61.5% of Surrey's workforce now have post-secondary degrees. Most of this group are educated in business, engineering and health related fields. These industries help to develop a business climate that responds to provincial priorities and creates a resilient local economy. Skilled occupations and applied sciences are also leading the employment recovery from the pandemic.  

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Graphs depicting Surrey's workforce by home city and post-secondary degree among Surrey residents

Top Industries & Occupations

11.8%

Retail Sector

11.3%

Healthcare Sector

9.9%

Construction

9.7%

Transportation & Logistics

7.6%

Advanced Manufacturing

Top Industries: Surrey’s economy includes a range of industry groups from retail, trades and logistics, to healthcare, business and professional services, as well as manufacturing. Surrey is a major manufacturing centre within Metro Vancouver. Whether you are talking about wood, furniture, computer/electrical, machinery, or food production, companies are thriving here. 

Top Occupations: Surrey has seen an impressive growth in the number of jobs over the past 10 years. The growing employment rate reflects positive economic conditions in the community and indicates that people looking for a job are getting matched to an appropriate employer, with sales and service occupations and trades, transport and equipment operations, topping the list.

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Two graphs depicting the top industries and top occupations in Surrey

Our Business Climate

12%

current general corporate income tax rate in BC

2%

income tax rate for small businesses

12%

business growth rate in Surrey

Business Growth in Surrey: There are over 20,000 businesses operating in Surrey, and the number grows each year. Over 3,000 new businesses choose Surrey as a location each year, taking advantage of our competitive tax rates and energy costs. 

Comparison of Property Tax Rates: BC has two rates of corporate income tax: the general rate and the small business rate. The current general corporate income tax rate is 12% and only 2% for small businesses. Taxation of investment income applies at the same general corporate income tax rate. In Surrey, the combined 27% provincial and federal tax rate is below the average tax rate across all U.S. states and Canadian provinces. 

Comparison of Energy Costs: Surrey has significantly lower energy costs for both medium and large users when compared to major cities across North America, which makes it suitable for small and large businesses. In general, BC’s electricity costs are among the most competitive in North America. The BC Hydro system, which services 95% of the province’s population, has an average system availability index of 99.97%. Nearly 98% of the electricity generated in BC comes from clean or renewable sources, supporting corporate social responsibility or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities.

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Two graphs depicting property tax rates and energy costs