grand erie jobs Archives - Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie

April saw two key job figures increase

by WPBGE | May 13, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

April 2025 job numbers showed that Brantford-Brant’s employment and unemployment rates both increased, as hundreds of more people entered the labour market.

Statistics Canada estimates that about 900 more people joined the local labour force last month, with 500 finding employment.

As a result, April’s local jobless rate climbed to 6.5 per cent, up from March’s 6.1 per cent, while the employment rate rose slightly to 60.6 per cent, according to seasonally adjusted figures from the government agency.

Canada’s labour market saw very modest employment growth (7,400 more jobs), but the jobless rate climbed by 0.2 percentage points to 6.9 per cent. Ontario shed 35,000 jobs – almost all in manufacturing – and the provincial unemployment rate increased to 7.8 per cent.

Manufacturing sector stable so far

Unlike Ontario as a whole, Brantford-Brant did not see much change in employment in its key manufacturing sector, which employs about 14,000 people.

“So far, we’ve been fortunate and have not seen much impact on local employment levels by the U.S. tariffs, even when it comes to manufacturing jobs,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

“All eyes continue to be on the tariff war and we continue to monitor the situation closely. We are all hoping that impacts will be minimal and short lived, but right now it’s a wait and see situation.”

Dalton said the increased number of people working in April brought total employment up to where it was in December-January, while the number of unemployed residents was on par with what it was last October – before tariffs in both cases.

The planning board says postings displayed on its Grand Erie Jobs online job board has been increasing for several months, even with the tariff uncertainty.

New job posts for the Grand Erie region were up 16 per cent in April, reaching 2,250, as almost 1,200 businesses posted openings online. The Top-5 postings were for retail salesperson, home support worker, food counter attendants, cooks and registered nurses.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the April 2025 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

March sees higher local jobless rates

by WPBGE | Apr 8, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

March 2025 employment numbers for Brantford-Brant showed that more residents were out-of-work last month.

About 800 more people were unemployed last month in Brantford-Brant, raising the local jobless rate to 6.1 per cent, up from February’s 5.3 per cent, according to seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada, which surveyed residents in the first half of March.

Norfolk’s unemployment rate also climbed in March, reaching 6.4 per cent, according to figures that are not seasonally adjusted.

Employment fell by 33,000 in Canada in March, causing the national unemployment rate to increase to 6.7 per cent. Ontario saw a 28,000 drop in employment and the provincial jobless rate climbed to 7.5 per cent.

“In Brantford, 5,500 people were estimated to be unemployed in March, but that is still below the numbers from last fall, so we can’t necessarily point the finger at tariffs,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director.

“Statistics Canada is reporting that the largest number of job losses in Canada last month was in retail and wholesale trade, but there wasn’t a dramatic change here.”

Jobs tied to auto industry

Dalton said that while there wasn’t a U.S. tariff slapped on all Canadian-made products, tariffs on steel and automobiles will impact manufacturers and people who work in those industries. A car maker in Windsor has already announced a 2-week shutdown.

“We’re home to a major steelmaker, Stelco in Nanticoke, and other steel-related companies,” she said. “Hundreds of our residents commute to jobs at Toyota plants in Cambridge and Woodstock, CAMI in Ingersoll and Ford in Oakville. And Grand Erie is home to auto parts manufacturers that employ several thousand people.”

Companies impacted by tariffs are encouraged to keep in touch with the planning board, municipal economic development departments, chambers of commerce and industry associations, Dalton said.

“Sharing information and talking about how to soften the blow of tariffs on businesses and workers is crucial. Tariffs are a community-wide issue, a human issue, not just a business issue.”

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the March 2025 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

Brantford area job stats little changed

by WPBGE | Mar 7, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

February 2025 employment numbers for Brantford-Brant saw little change, but the unemployment rate still climbed slightly.

The local jobless rate was estimated to be 5.3% in February, up from January’s 5%, according to seasonally adjusted figures based on a Statistics Canada survey of households, which was conducted Feb. 9 to 15.

Nation-wide job numbers were virtually unchanged last month and Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 6.6%. Meanwhile, Ontario’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.3%, due mainly to fewer people looking for work.

February 2025 figures show that the Brantford area continues to have the lowest unemployment rate among nearby communities such as Hamilton, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, St. Catharines-Niagara and London. However, Brantford’s employment rate – the proportion of the population aged 15+ who are working – is middle of the pack.

“The fact that employment was little changed locally, regionally and across Canada can be read as a sign that many employers pressed pause last month in the face of U.S. tariffs,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s executive director. “Businesses are in a wait-and-see mode, neither adding nor reducing staffing.”

Impact of U.S. tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Canadian goods would start February 4, but on February 3 paused them, saying they would start March 4. Since then, the U.S. has announced that Canadian steel and aluminum will face tariffs starting next week, while tariffs on some other goods would be paused until April.

“There’s a lot of confusion and uncertainty right now, especially with U.S. announcements changing almost daily, so it is understandable if businesses have put things on hold,” Dalton said.

Dalton said the planning board will monitor impacts on the area’s labour market and will work with governments, business groups and community services to support businesses and workers.

Even with all the uncertainty, local employers have still been posting job openings, though it isn’t clear if people have been hired to fill those openings, she said.

The planning board’s Grand Erie Jobs platform saw 1,600 new job postings in February, and the number of businesses with postings reached 1,000. Grand Erie Jobs displays postings from major online job boards.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the February 2025 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

Jobless rate officially lowest in Ontario

by WPBGE | Feb 11, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

January 2025 employment figures showed that Brantford recorded the lowest jobless rate in Ontario, though employment actually fell locally last month.

The Brantford-Brant unemployment rate dropped to 5% in January, down from December’s 5.1%, even though an estimated 500 fewer people were employed, according to Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted figures, based on a survey of some local households.

Canada added 76,000 jobs in January, the third straight month of employment gains, and the unemployment rate dipped to 6.6%. Over the last three months Canada has added 211,000 jobs. Employment rose in Ontario by 39,000 positions, but the jobless rate climbed 0.1% to 7.6%.

The Brantford area edged out Thunder Bay, at 5.1%, for lowest unemployment rate in Ontario. Brantford beat neighbouring communities by a wider margin, with St. Catharines-Niagara being the closest at 6.1%.

Despite the strong numbers, the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie is taking a cautious tone.

“We’ve heard a less positive story from the Employment Ontario organizations that provide help to jobseekers,” said Danette Dalton, the planning board’s executive director. “They report that many local employers aren’t hiring and that jobseekers are frustrated and discouraged.”

Dalton said the number of residents not in the labour force – neither employed nor unemployed – jumped last September and has remained stubbornly high since then.

“The number of youths 15 to 24 not in the labour force has increased the most, indicating that they have been hit the hardest by the slowdown in hiring,” she said.

Dalton said it is unclear what the threat of American tariffs on Canadian goods has or will have on local hiring, but that the planning board is investigating ways it can support businesses if they are impacted.

The planning board’s Grand Erie Jobs platform saw a sizeable jump in new online job postings in January, with 1,600, up from about 1,000 in December. However, the total number of active jobs postings, which includes some carried over from the month before, was down.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the January 2025 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

Local job numbers end 2024 on a strong note

by WPBGE | Jan 14, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

December 2024 employment numbers ended the year on a strong note.

Employment in the Brantford area was up by an estimated 1,000 people in December, pushing the jobless rate down to under 5%.

Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate dropped by almost a full percentage point last month to 4.8%, down from November’s 5.7%, according to Statistics Canada figures, which are based on a three-month moving average and adjusted for the season.

Norfolk’s unemployment rate was 3.8% in December, the lowest on a monthly basis in 2024. Since December 2023, the employment rate for Norfolk is up by 2.7% and there have been gains in both full-time and part-time work.

Employment in Canada last month grew by 91,000 and the jobless rate dipped to 6.7%. Men aged 55+ accounted for 41,000 of that employment growth, while 21,000 more women 55+ were also working. Ontario saw employment increase by 23,000 and the unemployment rate nudged down to 7.5%.

“Seeing increased employment in Brantford-Brant and Norfolk, as well as nationally, is certainly good news,” said Danette Dalton, of the Workforce Planning Board. “The hope is that the gains can be sustained and aren’t just short term.”

Traditionally, there’s additional hiring by retail businesses in November and December for the holiday season. However, there have also been employment gains in manufacturing, a major industry in this area.

Dalton cautioned that while the local jobless rate has dropped for three straight months, the number of people employed in the Brantford area is still down from the Spring and Summer of 2024.

“We’ve heard for several months that, in general, local businesses have slowed hiring, and employment counsellors trying to help people find work have confirmed that,” she said. “There’s also been fewer job posting on our Grand Erie Jobs job board.”

Just over 1,000 new postings appeared on Grand Erie Jobs in December, a 27% decrease from November, which had also seen a sizeable drop. The number of companies with postings in December fell 15%.

The top postings were for jobs in health care and the service industry, including stores and restaurants.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the December 2024 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

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