Vital Signs Data
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
SDG 8: Ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth to drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standard.
Business Sectors
Business Sectors
A higher percentage of businesses operate within the Agriculture, Construction, Manufacturing, Arts, Sports, Entertainment, Recreation, and Accommodation and Food Services sectors when compared to the province of Ontario.
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)
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)
| Top Sectors in 2023 *NAICS | No. of businesses with employees | No. of locations without employees | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction (NAICS 23) | 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. |
* NAICS is a North American Industry Classification System used in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data.
Business Growth & Decline
Business Size
Businesses by Employment
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 had a slow recovery since 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%.
Employers are contending with workforce shortages, skill gaps, rising input costs and debt load. (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)
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 |
