Employment growth in York Region exceeds provincial and national average

NEWMARKET – Employment growth in York Region now exceeds both provincial and national averages concludes the Employment and Industry 2002 survey recently released.

"The results are fantastic," said Regional Chair and CEO Bill Fisch. "Economic strength allows the Region to build on its enviable quality of life."

Produced annually, the Employment and Industry 2002 report provides insight into emerging patterns of employment growth and economic development within York Region.

"Close monitoring of employment trends and business movement is an integral element of York Region’s growth management strategy," said Markham Regional Councillor Frank Scarpitti, Chair of the Region’s Planning and Economic Development Committee. "This report provides Regional Council and the public and private sector with information to develop precise economic investment strategies."

The report is based on information collected from a door-to-door survey conducted with businesses located in selected employment areas and rural community centres in York Region between May and August of 2002. Over 10,600 companies were surveyed throughout the Region.

Highlights of the Employment and Industry 2002 report include:

• Employment growth in York Region for the year ending 2002 is estimated at 405,000 jobs, representing an average annual employment growth rate of 5.7% since 1998, compared to 2.2% nationally and 2.6% in Ontario.
• Within the GTA, York Region’s share of employment is increasing, rising from 8.0% of employment in 1986 to 15.0% in 2001.
• Each municipality in York Region has seen employment growth. The majority of employment continues to be located in the three southern municipalities. As of the 2001 Census, Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill accounted for 78.2% of all jobs in the Region.
• York Region’s labour force is well educated, with 66.4% adults over 20 years of age having a post-secondary education. This is higher than both the national and provincial averages, which stand at 58.2% and 60.1% respectively.
• Employment by type of worker in York Region has remained relatively constant in the surveyed areas since 1998, with full-time employment accounting for over 81% of employment.
• The manufacturing sector continued to be the primary employer in York Region, employing 31.4% of workers in surveyed areas in 2002. However, strong employment growth was evident in a number of other sectors with the retail trade, finance, insurance and real estate, business services and public administration sectors each recording growth rates in excess of 20% since 1998.

York Region’s Employment and Industry 2002 will be available from the York Region Planning and Development Services Department at the end of July. It will also be available from the York Region Web site at www.region.york.on.ca

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Contact: Wendy Lewis, Corporate Communications Services, York Region

- (905) 830-4444 or (416) 297-9696, ext. 1238

- Email: wendy.lewis@region.york.on.ca