Ontario Adds 18,900 Jobs in November

Provincial Economy One of the Fastest-Growing in Canada

NEWS December 2, 2016
Employment in Ontario increased by 18,900 in November — including gains in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing and information, culture and recreation.

Ontario’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.3 per cent in November, and has been lower than the national average for 19 months in a row.

The November job numbers bring the total increase in employment since the recessionary low in June 2009 to 660,000. The majority of these new jobs are full time positions, in the private sector and in industries that pay above-average wages.

Ontario’s economy is growing and it is expected to remain one of the fastest-growing in Canada over the next two years. According to the recently released Provincial Economic Accounts, Ontario’s real GDP increased 2.5 per cent in 2015, and has outpaced the national average for the second consecutive year.

Through sound financial management, the government is on track to balance the budget next year, in 2017-18, and remain balanced in 2018-19.

Supporting Ontario’s workforce is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives. 

QUOTES

“I am pleased Ontario’s economy remains strong in a number of key sectors and regions. Our strategy to support a dynamic business climate where employers can create good jobs and the economy can grow is getting results. November’s job numbers show our economy continues to gain momentum, but there is more work to do. We will continue our efforts to make Ontario’s economy more globally competitive, growing it and helping people in their everyday lives in the process.”
— Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Growth

“Our government is working hard to attract investment and create good jobs for Ontarians. In my own ministry, the tourism, culture and sport sectors are major economic drivers that employ hundreds of thousands of people. We know that by supporting an innovative business environment, we can foster growth across the province to build a stronger economy, and an even better Ontario where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

— Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

QUICK FACTS

• Employment growth has occurred in many economic regions across the province, including Windsor-Sarnia and Kingston-Pembroke.
• Ontario’s film and TV industry celebrated its best year ever in 2015, contributing $1.5 billion to the province’s economy and supporting almost 32,500 full-time direct and associated jobs.
• In 2014, tourism generated about 372,000 jobs, the culture sector created more than 276,000 jobs, and the sport sector generated over 42,000 jobs — combined, these sectors employ more Ontarians than the construction industry and almost as many as the manufacturing sector.
• Manufacturing sales in Ontario have increased 5.0 per cent on a year-to-date basis. In September, the province’s manufacturing sales increased 0.3 per cent to $25.1 billion, reflecting gains in the machinery, transportation equipment and fabricated metal industries.
• Since 2013, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and Eastern Ontario Development Fund have helped to create and retain more than 32,500 jobs and attracted approximately $1.58 billion in investment. The funds cover up to 15 per cent of eligible project costs, with the recipient company funding the remainder from its own resources.
• The Government of Ontario currently has the lowest program spending per capita among Canadian provinces and ranks the lowest among provinces in terms of public sector employees per capita. 

LEARN MORE

The 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review

The 2016 Ontario Budget