The economic impact of COVID-19 could shrink B.C.鈥檚 economy by between 7% and 12% this year.
An "optimistic" scenario at the low end of that range would dwarf the economic impact B.C. experienced听during the Great Recession of 2008-09, and surpass the declines in growth and employment brought by the brutal 1981-82 recession, according to the听Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC).
In a new report released Friday, BCBC economists note that the province could lose 500,000 jobs by the end of the second quarter. They expect tens of thousands of businesses to declare insolvency or close permanently, and fear that some industries听will suffer lasting damage as a result of the global pandemic.
The听council's projections include听two economic scenarios for British Columbia as governments, businesses and households听struggle with the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The first is an "optimistic" projection, which forecasts听a contraction in real gross domestic product (GDP) of 7.3% this year 鈥� or between 6% and 8%, given the present situation鈥檚 high degree of uncertainty.
A decline in growth of 7.3% represents an $18.3 billion reduction in the total value of B.C.'s economic output for 2020. Under the scenario 鈥� calculated by aggregating growth projections industry by industry 鈥� the province's air transportation, tourism and hospitality sectors continue to suffer the most. BCBC expects output in these sectors听to fall by around 40% this year.
With the suspension of events and sports games, B.C.'s arts, entertainment and recreation industry is projected to collapse by 60%. A big decline in the motion picture and sound recording industries 鈥� a drop of 33% 鈥� is also assumed, and output could fall further if the Canada-U.S. border remains closed throughout 2020.
Non-residential construction 鈥� which, at the start of the year, was expected to bolster B.C.'s economic standing despite overall waning growth 鈥� is expected to shrink by 5%, as investors make decisions to reduce their capital spends. Residential construction is forecast to fall by 20%.
All told, the impact creates a听鈥渄eep economic hole鈥� BCBC says most measures announced by provincial and federal governments fall short of filling. It also assumes that significant portions of B.C.'s service economy will remain locked down for at least eight weeks
The second scenario 鈥� BCBC's "pessimistic" projection听鈥撎齭ees the economy shrinking by more than 11% this year 鈥� a $45 billion reduction in real GDP as business shutdowns last longer.
That scenario, BCBC says, would be beyond anything the province has experienced in the last 70 years.
"It is possible we are too pessimistic. Some or even most business activity may resume sooner than we believe. And perhaps governments will do more to prevent otherwise viable businesses from going under during the crisis," wrote BCBC report authors Jock Finlayson, executive vice-president and chief policy officer, and听Ken Peacock, vice-president and chief economist.
Peacock called the federal government's decision to听听to small and medium-size businesses a "game changer" that will help businesses cope with significant reductions in revenue. But听the measure does not change the fundamental issues wracking economies around the world.
The report expects a "very weak" global backdrop to weigh on B.C.'s growth, and "shell-shocked" consumers to reduce their spending.
The full report from BCBC 鈥� complete with industry projections and information about how they were calculated 鈥� can be read听.
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