Businesses by size
Business sectors
Top industry sectors by number of businesses (with employees)
Top industry sectors by number of businesses (with employees)
In Prince Edward County, a higher percentage of total businesses operate within the Agriculture, Construction, Manufacturing, Arts, Sports, Entertainment, Recreation, and Accommodation and Food Services sectors when compared to the province of Ontario.
Despite pandemic restrictions, the number of businesses with employees increased from 875 (June 2019) to 1,079 (June 2023). The hospitality sector was hard hit, with the accommodation & food services recovering more quickly than retail. Labour shortages and supply chain issues are slowing growth.
Although the number of business decreased in professional, scientific and technical services and real estate, there were increases in the number of self-employed people working in these sectors (see details below).
Agriculture sector
Agriculture sector
| Agriculture sector | PEC 2006 | PEC 2011 | PEC 2016 | PEC 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land in crops (acres) | 92,451 | 86,317 | 86,027 | 79,212 |
| Number of farms | 520 | 477 | 432 | 375 |
| Average age of farm operators | 51.7 | 54.8 | 56.4 | 58.4 |
| Farms reporting a written succession plan | -- | -- | 34 | 44 |
| Direct sales of agricultural products to consumers | -- | -- | 105 | 94 |
| Organic products for sale | -- | 5 | 14 | 11 |
Employment
Employment
In addition to 1,079 businesses with employees, there are 2,254 locations with self-employment. 29.8% of the PEC workforce is self-employed, compared to Ontario at 13.6% (The Daily, Stats Canada October 2021)
High growth self-employment areas during the pandemic include real estate leasing services; professional, scientific & technical services; and specialty trade contractors.
In the table below, locations without employees include the self-employed, i.e. those who do not maintain an employee payroll, but may have a workforce which consists of contracted workers, family members or business owners. (Source: Statistics Canada, Business Counts June 2023, Census subdivision. Custom calculation)
| Sectors in 2023 | No. of businesses with employees | No. of locations without employees | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction (NAICS 2023) | 165 | 216 | Construction of new housing stock and renovations is active through the influx of new residents. Specialty trades are a high growth area. |
| Health care and social assistance (62) | 116 | 125 | Health care services are influenced by the large senior population. |
| Retail trade (44-45) | 100 | 109 | The retail sector is recovering from pandemic restrictions. |
| Accommodation and food services (72) | 98 | 124 | Strong tourism bolsters the Accommodation & Food Services and Retail Trade sectors. |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (11) | 90 | 236 | Agriculture is a mainstay industry, with spin-off benefits in many other industries such as beverage manufacturing, food services, and retail trade. A farm-to-table industry offers agri-food experiences, while also delivering on a viable industry/sector from production to processing to wholesale to retail. |
| Professional, scientific and technical services (54) | 80 | 271 | This has been a high growth area for independent workers during the pandemic. |
| Other services except public administration (81) | 77 | 105 | This category encompasses a wide range including repairs & maintenance, laundry services, religious & service organizations. |
| Manufacturing (31-33) | 63 | 65 | Manufacturing includes cement and concrete product manufacturing, beverage manufacturing (wine, beer, cider, spirits), and dairy product manufacturing. |
| Real estate and rental and leasing (53) | 50 | 680 | Real estate has been another growth area for independent workers during the pandemic. |
Health Care & Social Assistance employs the most people, followed by Accommodation & Food Service that is bolstered by the strong tourism economy. Professional, scientific and technical services have increased employment, especially with remote work since the pandemic. Retail Trade has not fully recovered from pandemic restrictions. The construction industry remains strong with new home construction and renovations. Arts, entertainment and recreation comprises 2.8% of the workforce, which is high compared to Ontario 1.7%.
Only about half of small businesses are back to pre-pandemic sales levels. In addition, businesses are grappling with rising input costs, labour shortages, supply chain issues and lingering pandemic debt. (Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
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