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

• 2018 Workplace Count report to Planning and Works Committee
• 2011 Workplace Count results report

Labour

• 2020 Labour Force Report
• 2016 Census Bulletin: Employment and Education
• 2011 NHS Bulletin: Employment and Education