Labour Market Bulletin Kitchener
Labour Market Bulletin, Fourth Quarter 2005
An Analysis of the Kitchener-Waterloo Area Labour Market
Service Canada
An overview of the City of Cambridge, City of Kitchener, Township of North Dumfries, City of Waterloo, Township of Woolwich, City of Stratford, Guelph and Listowel.
- The Kitchener-Waterloo labour market levelled off at the end of 2005.
- Employment is up by almost double the provincial year-to-year average.
- The goods-producing sector leads growth.
Highlights:
- A $4.25 billion refurbishment of the Bruce A nuclear power plant will lead to a boost in employment in the Waterloo Region, particularly in the skilled trades.
- Local projects such as the new Toyota plant in Woodstock and the refurbishment of the Bruce A nuclear power plant may create so many jobs that the area may soon be suffering from a shortage of skilled trades according to the Building and Construction Trades Council. Approximately 1,500 skilled trades workers will be needed for the Bruce A nuclear power plant project alone.
- Housing starts in Waterloo Region were down this quarter as compared to the same time last year.
- Job losses continue in the manufacturing sector with at least five area employers laying off workers or planning to close in the new year. Employers affected include ThyssenKrupp Budd Canada, VSA LLC, Bailey and Glenoit Corporation, ABB Incorporated, Imperial Tobacco Canada and Linamar's Diversacast plant.
- Companies within the business services sector continued to recruit workers this quarter, helping to offset lay-offs announced within manufacturing and other areas.
- With a strong local economy and an upswing in tourism, Waterloo Region's hotel industry is expanding at a rapid pace.
- Stratford General Hospital and Cambridge Memorial Hospital will undergo extensive renovations. Both upgrades are vital for the recruitment and retention of medical staff in both areas.
The complete Labour Market Bulletin, including these Highlights, is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, print version (size: 120 kb)
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