Vital Signs Data
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 8: Ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth to drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standards.
Employment & Workforce
Employment & Workforce
Notes: Ontario comparison is for the most recent census year.
- PEC's economy relies heavily on the seasonal tourism and agriculture sectors.
- The 2021 labour force census data was affected by pandemic restrictions. Mass migrations of remote workers from large urban centres to rural areas boosted the local construction industry, and increased employment numbers in professional industries (see industry sectors)
- PEC has a large proportion of people not participating in the labour force (PEC 48.9% / ON 37.2%). The dependency ratio also indicates a large percentage of people of non-working age (youth & seniors), compared with the number of those of working age.
- The pandemic contributed to an increase in self-employment, reaching 2,592 individuals. This growth has further increased PEC's already higher-than-average proportion of self-employed workers (PEC 25.5% / ON 14.6%). High self-employment rates can signal a lack of stable job opportunities.
- Remote work and working from home increased significantly, rising from 11% in 2011 to 27.6% in 2021.
Workforce, Wages, Employment Concentration
- Jobs include employees and self-employed.
- NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System.
- Employment concentration shows which industries are strong or dominant in an region. The baseline is 1.0, where employment in that industry is equal to the national average. The industries with the highest employment concentration include: agriculture, arts/entertainment/recreation, accommodation and food services, and public administration.
- Wages: PEC's averages wages of $54,206 are historically lower than Ontario at $60,506 (2021).
Workforce Shortages
In the midst of labour shortages and historically low unemployment, Canada faces record retirements from an aging labour force. More than 1 in 5 persons (21.8%) are close to retirement and from 2016 to 2021, the number of children younger than 15 grew six times slower than the number of persons aged 65 and older. (The Daily, Stats Canada 2022-04-27)
Prince Edward County’s workforce shortages are further impacted by a declining percentage of working age population and lack of affordable housing. The key population for workforce development, individuals age 25 to 54, decreased by 1.5% (2016 to 2021).
Adding to the labour shortages is the high out-migration rate of working age populations. In the 25-44 age range, PEC saw an out-migration of 8.1% between 2011 and 2016, among the highest rates in Ontario census divisions. (Statistics Canada: Annual Tax Filer Migration Estimates by Census Division)
The Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce survey at May 15, 2023 reported 32% of 1041 employers do not have sufficient housing for staff.
The pandemic has exacerbated the issue especially in the hospitality industry which has seen a mass exodus as workers upskilled or switched to other jobs.
The shortage of healthcare workers is causing increased pressure and burnout among those currently employed.
- County Docs is actively recruiting physicians.
- Local bursaries support PEC residents looking to advance their healthcare education.
- A shuttle provides transportation for Personal Support Worker and Nursing student placements between Loyalist College, the hospital, and McFarland Home.
Around 700,000 of the four million Canadians working in the trades are expected to retire by the end of the decade. (Employment and Social Development Canada)
- In PEC, 820 people (6.7%) hold an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma, down from 2,315 (12.2%) in 2011. This decline mirrors a broader provincial trend, with Ontario's rate at 5.1%.
- In September 2024, Thrive PEC commenced a Workforce Development Pilot centred on skilled trades in PEC, supported by an Ontario Rural Economic Development grant.
- Base 31 and Loyalist College have partnered to launch two fully funded training programs that offer hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications, and career-advancing opportunities—delivered at Base 31 in Prince Edward County.
The Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with local technology workforce scheduling app “Shift Yourself” launched a “Work Local” campaign in September 2021. The technology provides a shared scheduling system between employers and employees, to support labour shortages affecting businesses. During the busy season and the weeks leading up to it, businesses struggle to meet growing demand, specifically in the service industry due to severe staffing shortages. Many positions are seasonal and/or part-time in nature with schedules changing regularly to meet shifting demand.
Learn more about Work Local.
Employment Resources
Barriers to employment encompass various challenges such as inadequate housing, clothing, or food, limited proficiency in English, a criminal history, lack of education, lack of applicable work experience, lack of credentials, lack of reliable transportation, and/or difficulties associated with childcare arrangements.
See Community Support Resources - Employment Services, Adult Education & Careers
Find jobs in demand in PEC’s economic region (select Ontario Eastern Region)
