‘We’re changing WorkBC eligibility so military spouses can plan ahead for meaningful work in their new community’
Human resources professionals in British Columbia will get earlier access to a mobile, often highly skilled talent pool that can be job‑ready on arrival thanks to a new policy change from the provincial government.
Military spouses and adult children relocating to B.C. with a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member can now access WorkBC employment services before establishing residency, a change the provincial government says will reduce employment gaps and ease interprovincial moves.
B.C. has expanded eligibility for WorkBC so that military spouses and dependent adult children aged 19 and older may begin job searching, career planning and training as soon as they receive confirmation of a posting to B.C., rather than waiting until they arrive and prove residency.
“Military families serve our country, so we want to serve them better, too,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “We’re changing WorkBC eligibility so military spouses can plan ahead for meaningful work in their new community, find stability sooner and ease the financial strain of relocation.”
Recently, Nova Scotia launched its Skills Bridge initiative, a new program designed to help military veterans transition into the construction industry, addressing both workforce shortages and the needs of those who have served their country.
Removing residency as a barrier
Hundreds of CAF families relocate to B.C. each year, often on tight timelines that make job transitions difficult, according to the provincial government. Previously, military spouses and adult children relocating from another province had to establish B.C. residency before accessing WorkBC services, a process the government says could create months‑long employment gaps during already complex moves.
Under the new rules, eligible individuals must intend to live in B.C. as part of a CAF transfer and provide documentation confirming the move, such as a CAF posting message indicating relocation to British Columbia. Once documentation is provided, WorkBC Centres can immediately offer job search support, career planning, training referrals and employment‑related assistance.
The provincial government says the change is intended to remove delays, reduce employment gaps and support smoother transitions by allowing CAF families to prepare for work before they arrive in their new community.
This is a welcome development, said Sophia Song, a realtor and spouse of a veteran who lives on the Westshore near Victoria.
“As a former military spouse and now the spouse of a veteran, I know firsthand how challenging it is to rebuild your career with every posting,” she said. “Being able to access WorkBC services before establishing residency will make a real difference for Canadian Armed Forces families moving to British Columbia. It gives spouses and adult children a head start on finding meaningful work and helps ease the financial and emotional strain that comes with every relocation.”
Local labour markets
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, said the revised eligibility rules are also aimed at supporting regional economies by connecting employers with incoming military family members.
“Strong local economies depend on people finding the right opportunities without having to uproot their lives,” Kahlon said. “This change strengthens B.C.’s labour markets by helping employers access the skills military families bring to their communities, benefiting both these families and their new communities.”
The expanded eligibility in B.C. aligns with the federal Seamless Canada initiative, led by the Department of National Defence and the CAF, which is intended to help military families navigate relocations by improving access to services such as employment, health care and child care before and during a move, according to the provincial government.
WorkBC Employment Services are funded by the Government of Canada through Employment Insurance contributions made by workers and employers, under the Canada–British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.
In 2025, the federal government announced it is investing more than $15 million over three years through the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund (VFWF) to help veterans transition to employment after their military service.
