Workforce Demographics
The Windsor-Essex Region's offers many companies locating here available and adaptable regional workforce. Windsor-Essex is one of the most diverse communities in Canada, with over 70 different languages spoken and over 150 ethnic origins represented. Italian is the third most commonly spoken language after English and French.
Windsor CMA Labour Market Figures - February 2017*
| January 2017 | February 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 283,400 | 283,500 |
| Labour Force | 171,600 | 169,900 |
| Employment | 162,300 | 161,300 |
| Unemployment | 9,300 | 8,600 |
| Participation Rate | 60.6% | 59.9% |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 5.1% |
| Employment Rate | 57.3% | 56.9% |
Released March 10, 2017
* The table reflects a seasonally adjusted 3-month moving average. The full table may be found here: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/71-001-x/2013005/t014-eng.htm
Employment by Industry
Manufacturing Recovery Continues
Despite the fact that output in the region’s manufacturing sector shrank by a total of nearly 40 per cent between 2001 and 2009, it still remains the census metropolitan area’s largest industry.
This sector is twice as large as the next biggest industry—non-commercial services. The fact that manufacturing output has expanded for five straight years is obviously good news for the region’s economy and is a key driver behind the area’s recovery. Specifically, manufacturing output increased by an average of 4.4 per cent per year from 2010 to 2014.
The auto sector, remains an important component of the region’s manufacturing industry, has been benefitting from rising vehicle sales in the key U.S. market as well as in Canada. In particular, the Windsor-built Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan have been selling well south of the border. Additionally, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) completed a $2-billion renovation of its Windsor assembly plant in preparation for the start of production on a new minivan model. All in all, the Conference Board of Canada expects local manufacturing output to expand by 2.8 per cent in 2015 and by 2.5 per cent in 2016.
| Sector | 2013 | 2014 | 2015* |
2016* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 155,000 | 155,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 |
| Goods Sector | 43,000 | 44,000 | 42,000 | 43,000 |
| Manufacturing | 31,400 | 32,900 | 29,800 | 32,700 |
| Construction | 8,300 | 8,300 | 9,600 | 8,100 |
| Primary and Utilities | 3,000 | 2,300 | 2,600 | 2,600 |
| Services Sector | 112,000 | 112,000 | 118,000 | 117,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 6,700 | 8,300 | 7,600 | 8,800 |
| Information and Cultural Industries | 1,800 | 2,100 | 1,800 | 1,900 |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade | 22,300 | 22,100 | 23,300 | 24,300 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 8,900 | 6,100 | 6,400 | 5,800 |
| Business Services | 12,200 | 11,700 | 12,700 | 11,800 |
| Personal Services | 21,100 | 23,600 | 27,500 | 24,400 |
| Non-Commercial Services | 34,200 | 33,400 | 34,300 | 35,200 |
| Public Administration | 4,900 | 4,500 | 4,300 | 4,800 |
* Forecast data
Source: Statistics Canada; Conference Board of Canada (Metropolitan Outlook 2: Economic Insights Into 15 Canadian Metropolitan Economies - 2015)
