Resources, Reports and Census Bulletins

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Doing Business

Waterloo Region's community profile describes our economy, key sectors, workforce, lifestyle, education, talent, demographics, transportation, cost of living/doing business and our innovation culture.

Census Bulletins

2016 Census Bulletins

2011 Census Bulletins

2011 National Household Survey Bulletins

2006 Census Bulletins

Building Activity Reports

Building Activity Reports

Business and Labour

2020 was a year of economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This uncertainty was reflected both locally and nationally according to annualized data gathered in the 2020 Labour Force Survey.

The total population of those age 15 and over in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Census Metropolitan Area (KCW CMA) was 492,900, of which, 338,600 were considered to be in the labour force (employed or unemployed). This results in a participation rate of 68.7 per cent, which is higher than the provincial and national averages.

The KCW CMA had an employed labour force of 306,200 people in 2020. This is the number of employed people who live in the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the Townships of Woolwich, North Dumfries, and Wilmot. There were 16,500 fewer employed people in the CMA in 2020 than in 2019. Of the 16,500 jobs lost, 83% were part time jobs.

Business

Labour

Central Transit Corridor Monitoring Reports

Population

As of year-end 2019, the population estimate for Waterloo Region was 617,870. Based on this estimate, over the past 15 years the region's population has grown an average of 1.58 per cent per year. The regional population estimates take into account the Census population, the estimated to year-end population, the Census undercount and full-time post-secondary students.

There are two commonly referenced 2016 population figures for Waterloo Region. Statistics Canada released results from the Census of Canada showing a 2016 Census population of 535,154. Additionally, the Province of Ontario outlines population forecasts in the Places to Grow - Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. For 2016, the estimated Places to Grow population for Waterloo Region was 556,600. The Places to Grow population includes a four per cent undercount, but excludes students.