Labour
Labour Force Participation
Employment Rate
Employment Rate by Age
Unemployment Rate
Unemployment Rate by Age
Labour Force Status by Educational Attainment
Occupation
Labour Force Participation
The labour force refers to persons who, in the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016 (the time when the census was conducted) were either employed or unemployed. In 2016, there were a total of 81,145 people in the Grey Bruce labour force, representing 60.1% of the population in Bruce County and 61% in Grey County. Figure 1 presents the percentages of males and females participating in the labour force in 2016 in Bruce County, Grey County, and Ontario. Males in the labour force made up 64.4% of males in Bruce County and 64.9% of males in Grey County, and females in the labour force made up 55.8% of females in Bruce County and 57.2% of females in Grey County.
Figure 1. Percentage of Males and Females Participating in the Labour Force, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2016

Table 1 presents labour force participation rates by age group for Ontario, Bruce County, and Grey County. Participation rates were higher than Ontario in Grey and especially Bruce counties among those aged 15 through 24, and fairly similar to Ontario among those aged 25 through 54. Among 55 to 64 year olds, participation rates were much lower than Ontario in Bruce County and similar to Ontario in Grey County. Rates among 65 to 74 year olds were relatively similar to Ontario in both counties, while rates among those aged 75 years and older were higher in both counties than in Ontario.
Table 1. Participation in the Labour Force by Age Group, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2016
|
Ontario
|
Bruce
|
Grey
|
15 to 24 years
|
60.2% (1,020,070)
|
73.9% (4,960)
|
67.8% (6,825)
|
25 to 54 years
|
85.3% (4,612,985)
|
87.2% (19,710)
|
86.0% (26,545)
|
25 to 64 years
|
80.3% (5,804,765)
|
76.7% (26,290)
|
79.0% (36,945)
|
|
|
|
|
15 to 19 years
|
43.4% (350,585)
|
65.1% (2,240)
|
55.0% (2,810)
|
20 to 24 years
|
75.3% (669,480)
|
83.1% (2,720)
|
80.9% (4,010)
|
25 to 34 years
|
85.0% (1,468,030)
|
87.5% (6,495)
|
85.5% (7,640)
|
35 to 44 years
|
86.2% (1,469,140)
|
89.5% (5,980)
|
86.9% (7,895)
|
45 to 54 years
|
84.7% (1,675,815)
|
85.2% (7,235)
|
85.5% (11,000)
|
55 to 64 years
|
65.5% (1,191,780)
|
56.5% (6,580)
|
65.4% (10,405)
|
65 to 74 years
|
22.2% (276,530)
|
21.6% (2,025)
|
24.6% (3,125)
|
75 years and over
|
4.7% (40,310)
|
6.5% (365)
|
7.4% (615)
|
Employment Rate
Since the last mandatory census in 2006, the employment rate and other working patterns in Canada have been affected by changes such as the 2008-2009 financial crisis, automation technologies, population aging, immigration, and the continued trend of increased participation among women. [1] The employment rate refers to the percentage of the total population aged 15 years and older who were employed during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016.
Figure 2 displays the employment rates in 2006 and 2016 for Bruce and Grey counties, and Ontario. Between 2006 and 2016 the employment rate fell locally and provincially. This decrease was more pronounced in Bruce and Grey counties than in Ontario. In 2016, the employment rate in Bruce County was 56.4%, down from 60.6% in 2006. In Grey County, the employment rate fell from 61.2% in 2006 to 57.4% in 2016. The employment rates in Bruce and Grey counties were slightly lower than the provincial rate in both 2006 and 2016. This is due in part to the Grey Bruce population being older relative to Ontario.
Figure 2. Employment Rate, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2006 & 2016

Figure 3 and Figure 4 display employment rates in 2006 and 2016 among males and females in Bruce and Grey counties and Ontario. In 2016, the employment rate in Bruce County was 60.5% for males and 52.3% for females, while in Grey County it was 61.0% among males and 53.9% among females. Employment rates remain higher among males than females both locally and provincially, though employment rates decreased from 2006 to 2016 to a greater extent among males than females.
Figure 3. Employment Rate among Males, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2006 & 2016

Figure 4. Employment Rate among Females, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2006 & 2016

Figure 5 displays employment rates in 2006 and 2016 in Grey Bruce municipalities. In 2016 most Grey Bruce municipalities had employment rates below the provincial rate. The municipalities with the highest employment rates tend to be those with the youngest populations, while those with the lowest employment rates tend to be those with the oldest populations. Between 2006 and 2016 the employment rate decreased in every Grey Bruce municipality, except Southgate where it increased, and Arran-Elderslie where it remained relatively unchanged. The greatest decreases were observed in Georgian Bluffs and Saugeen Shores.
Figure 5. Employment Rate, Grey Bruce Municipalities, 2006 & 2016

Employment Rate by Age
In 2016, 73% of “working-age" adults (aged 25-64) in Bruce County were employed, as were 75.6% in Grey County and 75.7% in Ontario. Figure 6 presents the employment rate among working-age men and women in Bruce and Grey counties and Ontario in 2016. When compared to Ontario, employment rates were lower in Bruce County for both men and women, while men and women in Grey County had similar rates of employment to their counterparts in Ontario.
Figure 6. Employment Rate among Working-age Males and Females, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2016

Figure 7 presents employment rates in Grey Bruce municipalities for the working-age population (25-64 years), and for working-age men and women. At the municipal level employment rates among working-age persons ranged from 68.3% in Northern Bruce Peninsula to 80.5% in South Bruce. Among working-age men, rates ranged from 67.4% in Northern Bruce Peninsula to 85.6% in South Bruce. Rates among working-age women ranged from 63.9% in Saugeen Shores to 75.2% in West Grey.
Figure 7. Employment Rate among Working-age Persons, Working-age Males, and Working-age Females, Grey Bruce Municipalities, 2016

Table 2 presents employment rates in Bruce and Grey counties and Ontario in 2016 by age group. In Grey County overall, employment rates were higher than Ontario among most age groups, especially younger age groups. In Bruce County overall, employment rates were much higher than Ontario in younger age groups, but generally similar to Ontario among older adults. The one exception was among 55 to 64 year olds where the employment rate in Bruce County was much lower than Ontario (the low labour force participation rate among this age group in Bruce County may indicate that many of these people have retired).
Table2. Employment Rate by Age Group, Ontario, Bruce County and Grey County, 2016
Age Group
|
Ontario
|
Bruce
|
Grey
|
15 to 24 years
|
49.6% (840,835)
|
63.6% (4,265)
|
57.4% (5,780)
|
25 to 54 years
|
80.3% (4,342,670)
|
83.1% (18,780)
|
82.4% (25,445)
|
25 to 64 years
|
75.7% (5,470,755)
|
73.0% (24,995)
|
75.6% (35,380)
|
|
|
|
|
15 to 19 years
|
34.5% (278,235)
|
57.6% (1,980)
|
46.6% (2,380)
|
20 to 24 years
|
63.3% (562,600)
|
69.6% (2,280)
|
68.5% (3,395)
|
25 to 34 years
|
78.4% (1,355,195)
|
81.7% (6,065)
|
80.3% (7,175)
|
35 to 44 years
|
81.7% (1,391,330)
|
86.5% (5,775)
|
83.9% (7,615)
|
45 to 54 years
|
80.6% (1,596,140)
|
81.8% (6,950)
|
82.8% (10,650)
|
55 to 64 years
|
62.0% (1,128,090)
|
53.3% (6,215)
|
62.4% (9,930)
|
65 to 74 years
|
21.0% (262,640)
|
20.5% (1,920)
|
23.4% (2,965)
|
75 years and over
|
4.4% (37,915)
|
6.3% (355)
|
7.2% (605)
|
Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate refers to the proportion of the population aged 15 years and older who were part of the labour force and were unemployed in the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016. Figure 8 displays unemployment rates for Bruce and Grey counties, and Ontario in 2006 and 2016. In 2016, 6.2% of people in the Bruce County labour force were unemployed, up from 5.3% in 2006. In Grey County, 5.9% of the labour force was unemployed in 2016, up from 5.2% in 2006. This represents a total of 2,100 unemployed people in Bruce County and 2,790 in Grey County. Unemployment rates in both counties were lower than in Ontario.
Figure 8. Unemployment Rate, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2006 & 2016

Figure 9 and Figure 10 display the unemployment rates among males and females in the labour force in 2006 and 2016 in Bruce and Grey counties and Ontario. Unemployment rates in Bruce and Grey counties were lower for both males and females in the labour force than for their provincial counterparts. The unemployment rate rose between 2006 and 2016 across the geographies and sexes presented. The increase in unemployment was less prominent among males in Grey County than males in other areas, and more pronounced among females in Bruce and Grey counties than females in Ontario. In 2016, the unemployment rate was slightly higher among males than females in Ontario and Grey County, and slightly higher among females than males in Bruce County.
Figure 9. Unemployment Rate among Males, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2006 & 2016

Figure 10. Unemployment Rate among Females, Bruce County, Grey County and Ontario, 2006 & 2016

Figure 11 displays the unemployment rates in Grey Bruce municipalities in 2006 and 2016. Most municipalities experienced a rise in unemployment between 2006 and 2016. Exceptions included Chatsworth, Owen Sound, and Saugeen Shores where the unemployment rate was unchanged, and Meaford and Northern Bruce peninsula where the unemployment rate decreased. Owen Sound had an unemployment rate that was equal to Ontario in 2016, while the rest of the municipalities in Grey Bruce had a lower rate of unemployment than Ontario.
Figure 11. Unemployment Rate, Grey Bruce Municipalities, 2006 & 2016

Unemployment Rate by Age
Table 3 presents unemployment rates by age group, in Ontario, Bruce County, and Grey County in 2016. Unemployment rates among working-age adults (25-64 years) were lower in Bruce and Grey counties than Ontario. Among youth and younger adults, unemployment rates tended to be lower than Ontario in both counties, except among 20 to 24 year olds where they were similar to provincial rates.
Table 3. Unemployment Rates by Age Group, Ontario, Bruce County and Grey County, 2016
Age Group
|
Ontario
|
Bruce
|
Grey
|
15 to 24 years
|
17.6% (179,235)
|
14.0% (695)
|
15.3% (1,045)
|
25 to 54 years
|
5.9% (270,315)
|
4.7% (930)
|
4.1% (1,095)
|
25 to 64 years
|
5.8% (334,010)
|
4.9% (1,295)
|
4.2% (1,570)
|
|
|
|
|
15 to 19 years
|
20.6% (72,350)
|
11.6% (260)
|
15.3% (430)
|
20 to 24 years
|
16.0% (106,885)
|
16.0% (435)
|
15.3% (615)
|
25 to 34 years
|
7.7% (112,830)
|
6.6% (430)
|
6.0% (460)
|
35 to 44 years
|
5.3% (77,805)
|
3.4% (205)
|
3.5% (280)
|
45 to 54 years
|
4.8% (79,680)
|
4.0% (290)
|
3.2% (355)
|
55 to 64 years
|
5.3% (63,695)
|
5.5% (360)
|
4.6% (475)
|
65 to 74 years
|
5.0% (13,890)
|
5.2% (105)
|
5.1% (160)
|
75 years and over
|
5.9% (2,390)
|
-
|
2.4% (15)
|
Table 4 presents unemployment rates among youth and younger adults in Grey Bruce municipalities in 2016. There were a total of 695 unemployed youths and young adults aged 15 to 24 in Bruce County in 2016, and 1,045 in Grey County. At the municipal level, unemployment rates among youth and young adults tended to be high in Kincardine, Saugeen Shores, Meaford, Owen Sound, and West Grey.
Table 4. Unemployment Rates among Youth and Young Adults, Grey Bruce Municipalities, 2016
Geography
|
15 to 24 years
|
15 to 19 years
|
20 to 24 years
|
25 to 34 years
|
Ontario
|
17.6% (179,235)
|
20.6% (72,350)
|
16.0% (106,885)
|
7.7% (112,830)
|
Bruce
|
14.0% (695)
|
11.6% (260)
|
16.0% (435)
|
6.6% (430)
|
Arran-Elderslie
|
11.0% (60)
|
11.1% (25)
|
9.4% (30)
|
10.8% (75)
|
Brockton
|
13.0% (100)
|
15.5% (55)
|
11.0% (45)
|
4.6% (45)
|
Huron-Kinloss
|
10.6% (60)
|
9.1% (30)
|
13.0% (30)
|
5.6% (35)
|
Kincardine
|
17.1% (140)
|
6.5% (25)
|
26.7% (115)
|
3.7% (45)
|
N. Bruce Peninsula
|
16.7% (20)
|
16.7% (10)
|
-
|
4.2% (10)
|
Saugeen Shores
|
16.4% (145)
|
11.3% (40)
|
20.0% (105)
|
8.7% (130)
|
South Bruce
|
7.3% (45)
|
11.3% (30)
|
2.9% (10)
|
4.1% (20)
|
S. Bruce Peninsula
|
14.2% (75)
|
13.6% (30)
|
16.1% (50)
|
6.5% (40)
|
Grey
|
15.3% (1,045)
|
15.3% (430)
|
15.3% (615)
|
6.0% (460)
|
Blue Mountains
|
12.8% (50)
|
11.4% (20)
|
14.0% (30)
|
4.7% (20)
|
Chatsworth
|
10.8% (50)
|
11.1% (20)
|
10.5% (30)
|
3.8% (20)
|
Georgian Bluffs
|
14.7% (110)
|
16.7% (60)
|
11.7% (45)
|
6.6% (50)
|
Grey Highlands
|
15.9% (130)
|
20.0% (60)
|
14.6% (75)
|
5.4% (35)
|
Hanover
|
11.7% (60)
|
12.0% (30)
|
13.0% (35)
|
5.4% (40)
|
Meaford
|
16.8% (110)
|
12.0% (30)
|
21.2% (85)
|
6.8% (55)
|
Owen Sound
|
19.0% (310)
|
17.8% (105)
|
19.8% (205)
|
7.0% (145)
|
Southgate
|
10.0% (65)
|
13.5% (35)
|
7.8% (30)
|
6.5% (45)
|
West Grey
|
16.2% (155)
|
17.0% (75)
|
16.3% (85)
|
5.2% (50)
|
Labour Force Status by Educational Attainment
Table 5 displays participation rates, employment rates, and unemployment rates for “working-age” persons (aged 25 to 64) by their highest educational attainment. Overall, unemployment rates tended to decrease as educational attainment increased both locally and provincially. People in Bruce and Grey counties in the apprenticeship or trades category were the exception to this; they had higher unemployment rates than persons in their county whose highest educational qualification was a high school diploma.
Unemployment rates in Bruce County were lower than Ontario for all educational attainment categories, except among the apprenticeship or trades group where the Bruce County rate was higher than Ontario. In Grey County unemployment rates were lower than Ontario across all educational attainment categories.
In Bruce County, employment rates were similar to Ontario among persons with no educational qualifications, and slightly higher than Ontario among persons whose highest educational qualification was a high school diploma. Employment rates were lower than Ontario among persons in Bruce County with post-secondary qualifications (as were participation rates). In Grey County, employment rates were much higher than Ontario among persons with no educational qualifications. Employment rates were slightly higher than or similar to Ontario in Grey County among persons in the high school, apprenticeship or trades, and college categories, but slightly lower in the university category.
Table 5. Labour Force Status among Working-age Persons by Highest Educational Attainment, Ontario, Bruce County, and Grey County, 2016
|
Ontario
|
Bruce
|
Grey
|
No certificate, diploma or degree
|
|
|
|
Participation rate
|
60.0%
|
61.9%
|
63.9%
|
Employment rate
|
54.5%
|
57.5%
|
60.3%
|
Unemployment rate
|
9.2%
|
6.9%
|
5.8%
|
High school or equivalent
|
|
|
|
Participation rate
|
75.3%
|
73.9%
|
77.4%
|
Employment rate
|
70.4%
|
70.1%
|
73.7%
|
Unemployment rate
|
6.4%
|
5.2%
|
4.8%
|
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma
|
|
|
|
Participation rate
|
82.3%
|
80.9%
|
84.5%
|
Employment rate
|
77.2%
|
75.8%
|
79.6%
|
Unemployment rate
|
6.1%
|
6.3%
|
5.6%
|
College or other non-university certificate or diploma
|
|
|
|
Participation rate
|
84.7%
|
80.9%
|
84.3%
|
Employment rate
|
80.4%
|
77.1%
|
81.2%
|
Unemployment rate
|
5.1%
|
4.8%
|
3.6%
|
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above
|
|
|
|
Participation rate
|
86.8%
|
81.7%
|
83.1%
|
Employment rate
|
82.5%
|
79.3%
|
80.8%
|
Unemployment rate
|
4.9%
|
3.1%
|
2.6%
|
Occupation
Table 6 displays the labour force population aged 15 and older in Ontario, Bruce County, and Grey County by occupation based on the National Occupational Classification (2016). Sales and service occupations are the most prominent occupations in Bruce and Grey Counties, as in Ontario. Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations; occupations in manufacturing and utilities; and natural resources, agriculture and related production make up a greater proportion of the workforce in Bruce and Grey counties than Ontario. Business, finance and administration occupations; occupations in education, law and social, community and government services; and natural and applied sciences and related occupations make up a smaller proportion of the workforce in Bruce and Grey counties than Ontario.
Table 6. Labour Force by Occupation, Ontario, Bruce County and Grey County, 2016
|
Ontario
|
Bruce
|
Grey
|
Labour Force 15+: All occupations
|
6,970,625
|
33,250
|
46,890
|
Management (%)
|
790,880 (11.3)
|
4,140 (12.5)
|
5,820 (12.4)
|
Business, finance and administration (%)
|
1,124,770 (16.1)
|
3,880 (11.7)
|
5,625 (12)
|
Natural and applied sciences and related (%)
|
516,110 (7.4)
|
1,890 (5.7)
|
1,720 (3.7)
|
Health (%)
|
447,045 (6.4)
|
2,195 (6.6)
|
3,720 (7.9)
|
Education, law and social, community and government services (%)
|
831,340 (11.9)
|
3,055 (9.2)
|
4,700 (10)
|
Art, culture, recreation and sport (%)
|
225,720 (3.2)
|
740 (2.2)
|
1,300 (2.8)
|
Sales and service (%)
|
1,632,085 (23.4)
|
7,430 (22.3)
|
10,360 (22.1)
|
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related (%)
|
927,820 (13.3)
|
6,040 (18.2)
|
8,465 (18.1)
|
Natural resources, agriculture and related production (%)
|
113,405 (1.6)
|
1,385 (4.2)
|
1,845 (3.9)
|
Manufacturing and utilities (%)
|
361,455 (5.2)
|
2,490 (7.5)
|
3,340 (7.1)
|
|
|
|
|
Occupation - not applicable
|
171,045
|
385
|
620
|
Read the full report here: Census Release VI Labour
Terms
Labour Force
Refers to persons who, during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016, were either employed or unemployed.
Labour force = Employed + Unemployed
Employed Person
Employed persons included those who, during the reference period: (a) Did any work at all at a job or business, that is, paid work in the context of an employer-employee relationship, or self-employment. This also includes persons who did unpaid family work, which is defined as unpaid work contributing directly to the operation of a farm, business or professional practice owned and operated by a related member of the same household; or (b) Had a job but were not at work due to factors such as their own illness or disability, personal or family responsibilities, vacation or a labour dispute. This category excludes persons not at work because they were on layoff or between casual jobs, and those who did not then have a job (even if they had a job to start at a future date).
Employment Rate
Refers to the number of persons employed in the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016, expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 15 years and over.
Unemployed Person
Refers to persons who, during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016, were without paid work or without self-employment work and were available for work and either:
- had actively looked for paid work in the past four weeks; or
(b) were on temporary lay-off and expected to return to their job; or
(c) had definite arrangements to start a new job in four weeks or less.
Unemployment Rate
Refers to the unemployed expressed as a percentage of the labour force in the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016.
Employed Labour Force
Refers to the population aged 15 and older who held a job at the time when the census was conducted
Participation Rate
Refers to the labour force in the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2016, expressed as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and over.
The participation rate for a particular group (age, sex, marital status, geographic area, etc.) is the total labour force in that group, expressed as a percentage of the total population in that group.
Highest certificate, diploma or degree
This variable refers to the highest level of education that a person has successfully completed and is derived from the educational qualifications questions, which asked for all certificates, diplomas and degrees to be reported.
The general hierarchy used in deriving this variable (high school, trades, college, university) is loosely tied to the 'in-class' duration of the various types of education. At the detailed level, someone who has completed one type of certificate, diploma or degree will not necessarily have completed the credentials listed below it in the hierarchy. For example, a person with an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma may not have completed a high school certificate or diploma, nor does an individual with a 'master's degree' necessarily have a 'certificate or diploma above bachelor level.' Although the hierarchy may not fit all programs perfectly, it gives a general measure of educational attainment.
Occupation
'Occupation' refers to the kind of work performed in a job, a job being all the tasks carried out by a particular worker to complete his or her duties. An occupation is a set of jobs that are sufficiently similar in work performed.
Kind of work is described in terms of tasks, duties and responsibilities, often including factors such as materials processed or used, the industrial processes used, the equipment used, and the products or services provided. Occupations are generally homogeneous with respect to skill type and skill level.
Occupation applies to the contribution of labour to that part of economic activity that is within the production boundary defined for the System of National Accounts.
References:
[1] Statistics Canada, November 29, 2017. The Daily. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171129/dq171129b-eng.htm
Sources:
Statistics Canada. 2017. Various Geographies. Census Profile - Age, Sex, Type of Dwelling, Families, Households, Marital Status, Language, Income, Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, Housing, Aboriginal Peoples, Education, Labour, Journey to Work, Mobility and Migration, and Language of Work for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-401-X2016054. Ottawa. Released November 29, 2017 http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/olc-cel/olc?ObjId=98-401-X&ObjType=2&lang=en&Limit=0 (accessed November 29, 2017).
Definitions: Statistics Canada, 2016. Dictionary, Census of Population 2016. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/ref/dict/index-eng.cfm