The Economic Impact of TRU
The results of TRU’s latest economic impact study indicate one in every 10 jobs in the Thompson, Nicola and Cariboo region, and one in 140 jobs in the province is supported by the activities of TRU and its students.
TRU engaged Lightcast, a labour market analytics firm, to assess the economic impact of TRU to the region and the province it primarily serves. Overall, the analysis, which was based on data from the 2023-24 fiscal year, found that TRU positively influences the lives of its students, as well as the regional and provincial economies.
Through TRU’s daily operations and the activities of students and alumni, it’s estimated the university contributes $885.5 million annually to the regional economy and $2.2 billion annually to the provincial economy.
The largest impacts are from alumni—students who graduated from the university and are using the knowledge and skills gained through university education to better themselves, their employers and workplaces, and the communities around them.
These TRU graduates contribute to the wealth and prosperity of communities and their increased earnings account for nearly 63 percent, over $558 million, of the total regional impact for the university.
Additionally, an investment in TRU, whether direct by students, government and donors, or indirectly, has measurable returns. For every dollar invested in TRU, taxpayers receive over $5 in added tax revenue and public sector savings over the course of the students’ working lives. Society gains more than $7 for every dollar spent, through added income and social savings from reduced crime and less reliance on healthcare. And for students, education results in higher earnings; for every dollar invested in their education, students gain $1.40 in higher earnings over the course of their working lives.
The Lightcast study also analyzed the impact of TRU’s Williams Lake campus. Through its day-to-day operations, the Williams Lake campus contributed $27 million to the Cariboo Regional District’s economy. Additionally, TRU’s Williams Lake Campus and its students support one out of every 93 jobs in the district. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, TRU’s Williams Lake Campus and its alumni in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector supported 64 jobs. These impacts highlight the campus' crucial role in the Cariboo Regional District and underscore the significance of its presence.
