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Employment swells in Grand Erie area

Employment swells in Grand Erie area

by | Jul 15, 2025 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

June employment in Brantford-Brant saw the largest month-over-month increase in employment in almost three years, even as the monthly jobless rate climbed.

The local unemployment rate grew to 7 per cent, up from May’s 6.7 per cent, according to seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada. Meanwhile, Brantford area’s labour force grew by an estimated 1,900 individuals month over month, and employment rose by 1,600.

Nation-wide, the unemployment rate shrunk by 0.1 per cent – to 6.9 per cent – as more people looked for and found work. Ontario saw similar trends of rising employment and a 0.1 per cent decline in the jobless rate – currently at 7.8 per cent.

Norfolk County, too, experienced growth in workforce participation and employment, causing the unemployment rate to dip steeply – to 4.8 per cent – last month.

The jobless rate climbed in some surrounding communities, such as Guelph and London, while it dipped in others (Hamilton), but most regions continued to see growth in labour force participation and employment.

In Brantford-Brant, June employment increased most dramatically amongst young men (aged 15-24). Participation grew across most other demographics too, except for older adults (55 and over), with many of these new labour market entrants finding work.

“It is fantastic to see more people, especially youth, engaged in the labour market,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director. “That said, we need to continue to find ways to support workers in trades, transport and manufacturing jobs that are experiencing declines due to the economic uncertainty. The best way for residents to do this is to support local and Canadian businesses.”

The Grand Erie Jobs online job board run by the planning board recorded almost 1,900 new jobs posted by 1,000 employers from across the Grand Erie region in June. New postings have been on the decline, but businesses are finding suitable candidates for their vacancies faster than before.

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

Brantford area job market stands out

Brantford area job market stands out

by | Mar 13, 2024 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

February 2024 employment numbers show the Brantford area labour market continues to be a bit of an anomaly compared to some of its neighbours, as well as Ontario and Canada.

To begin with, the Brantford-Brant jobless rate was unchanged in February, at 4.9%, while it increased in Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, London, Ontario and Canada, according to Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted figures released Friday.

Canada’s jobless rate inched up to 5.8%, despite 41,000 job gains, while Ontario’s climbed to 6.5%.

Within a one-hour commute, only Guelph had a lower February unemployment rate than Brantford. And only Brantford has seen a jobless rate below 5% for 6 months straight.

“It’s tricky comparing the labour markets of communities, since each have some unique characteristics, types of employers and workers,” said Danette Dalton, the Planning Board’s executive director. “Still, it’s a strength that Brantford has been able to buck some trends for months.”

A second anomaly in Brantford’s labour market over the last six months has been the relationship between population growth and employment growth, Dalton said.

The main storyline regarding the labour force for months nationally and provincially has been that population growth has outpaced employment growth. Since August, Canada’s working age population (those who are 15+ in age) has swelled by 527,000, while employment has grown by 183,000.

Ontario’s working age population has grown by 236,000 since August, but employment is only up 4,400, according to Statistics Canada’s February 2024 employment numbers.

Among neighbouring labour markets, only Brantford and Guelph have had employment gains above their population growth. Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo job gains match population growth, but Hamilton, London and St. Catharines-Niagara have lagged behind.

 “It’s a positive that Brantford’s employment gains have surged. Hopefully, that trend continues, and job seekers and employers gain greater confidence in the local economy,” Dalton said.

About 1,400 employers in Grand Erie were looking to hire in February, up 17% from January, according to Grand Erie Jobs, the planning board’s community online job board. However, actual postings were down slightly to 1,900.

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

October sees better employment numbers

October sees better employment numbers

by | Nov 7, 2023 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

October 2023 employment numbers saw the Brantford area’s jobless rate fall, reversing some recent job losses.

The Brantford-Brant unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, down from September’s 4.7%, according to seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey.

By comparison, both the national and provincial unemployment rates grew. Canada’s increased to 5.7% despite employment growing by a modest 18,000, while Ontario saw its rate climb to 6.2%. Canada’s job growth has been unable to keep up with population growth.

Brantford gained an estimated 900 jobs in October, bouncing back from weaker numbers seen for the previous two months.

The local job market also maintained its bragging rights of having the lowest unemployment rate compared to nearby communities. Hamilton was the next lowest at 5.2%.

Brantford and Hamilton job numbers moved in the same direction last month. Both areas grew their labour forces, increased employment – particularly in service industries such as transportation, warehousing and education – and saw fewer people out of work.

“There’s a lot of similarity right now between the labour markets in Brantford and Hamilton,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforc Planning Board’s executive director. “There are thousands of people who commute daily between the communities in each direction.”

There were about 1,900 job postings in October on Grand Erie Jobs, the community online job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board. That was down 19% from September and 3% fewer companies posted positions.

“There has been a decline in the number of online job postings over the last several months, but that isn’t unusual,” Dalton said. “There’s a seasonal nature to the labour market and hiring can slow in the Fall months and then pick up in January. The same was true last year.”

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the October 2023 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

Job numbers stayed steady in September

Job numbers stayed steady in September

by | Oct 10, 2023 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

September 2023 employment numbers showed that the Brantford area job market held steady last month and even recovered some recent lost ground.

Brantford-Brant’s jobless rate last month was 4.7%, a small drop from August’s 4.8%, according to Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted numbers. Norfolk’s job numbers showed the jobless rate hovering around 4.5% over the last few months.

Canadian employment grew by 64,000 in September, though the national jobless rate remained unchanged at 5.5%. Ontario added some jobs but the unemployment rate still nudged up to 6%.

September 2023 employment statistics showed that Brantford area has the lowest unemployment rate compared to the nearby communities of Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, London, Guelph and Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo.

After shrinking in recent months, the overall size of the labour pool increased in Brantford in September.

“Hopefully the number of people who are active in the labour force, working or looking for work, continues to improve, reversing the recent negative trend,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director. “It’s good to remind people that there are many opportunities out there.”

A Fall Job Fair with about 35 businesses who are hiring is taking place Oct. 11 at Brantford’s Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre. The job fair is organized by three local employment centres and the Workforce Planning Board.

Job seekers who go to the job fair are being encouraged to dress to impress employers and to bring their resumes, as some employers will be doing on-the-spot interviews.

September saw more than 2,300 new job postings appear on Grand Erie Jobs, the community’s job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board.

The average wage listed in job posts was about $24 an hour in September, which was similar to recent months but $1.80 more than September 2022.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their report on September 2023 employment-related figures for Canada and Ontario.

Local unemployment rate sees big decline

Local unemployment rate sees big decline

by | Mar 10, 2023 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

February 2023 employment numbers show that Brantford’s jobless rate fell for the firsst time in six months.

The Brantford-Brant unemployment rate last month was 5.8%, a one percentage drop from January’s 6.8%, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey of area residents.

Job gains slowed in Ontario and for Canada as a whole in February. Canada’s jobless rate was unchanged at 5%, while Ontario nudged down to 5.1%.

Brantford’s jobless rate decreased largely due to fewer people being unemployed. Some of those people found jobs, while a greater share appears to have left the labour market.

“You don’t want to see people leave the labour market, especially at a time when some employers have shortages, but our overall level of employment remains impressive,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director.

“Brantford has the second highest employment rate among nearby communities, only behind Guelph.”

Dalton said looking at the employment rate – the percentage of residents 15 years and older who are working – can give a fuller picture of the health of any community’s labour market.

For example, St. Catharines-Niagara’s jobless rate in February was 4.3% but its employment rate was 58.4%. By comparison, Brantford’s jobless rate looks worse at 5.8%, but the percentage of people employed is far better at 65.9%, she said.

Dalton added that Brantford’s February 2023 employment rate looks even more impressive when it comes to people in the core working ages of 24 to 54. Brantford’s employment rate for this age group is 89.3%, which is higher than nearby communities – and the second highest in Ontario.

“That’s a new high for this area according to Statistics Canada figures dating back to 2006,” she said.

There were about 2,500 new job postings in February across the region on the Grand Erie Jobs online job board. The largest number of postings continues to be in health care and social assistance, while postings in manufacturing and construction increased. The number of retail positions continues to slide, which is not unusual to see in the post-Christmas season.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read its news release on February employment in Canada and Ontario.

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