More people working from home means fewer downtown employees filtering into Kamloops businesses, according to the mayor.

Ken Christian says that’s happening with a number of sectors, and means less foot traffic for places like restaurants and coffee shops.

“That kind of thing is happening at law offices, it’s happening in insurance offices, all over the place. So you’re starting to see a transition in terms of that work-from-home initiative, that really will have an impact on those sectors that service those workers,” he says.

“In terms of hospitality meals, after-work drinks, those kinds of things. But also the space they were renting on a per-square-foot basis in commercial highrise developments, that they may decide now they can shrink their footprint or don’t need as much space.”

In particular, Christian says the downtown is missing having nearly 400 employees at the BC Lottery Corporation headquarters, many of whom are now working from home. He adds he’s been in constant talks with Greg Moore, the interim CEO of BCLC, for updates on the corporation’s back-to-work strategy.

Meantime, some businesses in Kamloops are booming despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christian says he’s hearing that cycling companies and landscapers, among others, are seeing a rise in business with people spending more money at home.

“People are deferring the expense that they were intending to put into an international travel trip, to say hey, I’m not going to Mexico this year, I’m going to buy a hot tub. So those kinds of things are starting to nuance through our local economy.”

But he says it’s certainly not all good news.

“Who am I hearing from? I’m hearing a lot from the hospitality and tourism sector. In particular, hotels, restaurants, those people in the tour area, they are having a tough time and they are really struggling.”

Christian says some industries are being propped up by supports from the federal government but he points out that situation won’t last forever.