Work

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version
 

London’s regional economy is highly based on manufacturing, with a significant percentage of this employment being within the St. Thomas area. The majority of business in London proper is service based. There is a growing trend in the number of small business start-ups; however, this may be due to a downturn in the economy, specifically within the automotive sector as those laid off are turning to self-employment. London’s unemployment rate is slightly above the national level, but lower when compared to the provincial estimate.
Focus on industrial diversification and attracting new business

Support and encourage small businesses and entrepreneurs

Key Report Findings (click to expand)

  • Employment Growth
    • With employment growth of 0.7% in 2007, London saw growth of 1.6 percentage points below the national rate (2.3%) and 0.8 percentage points below the provincial rate (1.6%). The 1987-2007 period saw an average annual employment growth of 1.3%, below both the provincial rate (1.5%) and the national rate (1.6%).
    • Employment Levels and Growth in London, Ontario and Canada 1987, 1996-2007, Employment Levels, Thousands of Workers
    		•
      Canada
      Ontario
      London
      1987
      12333.0
      4895.6
      190.2
      1996
      13421.4
      5167.1
      202.9
      1997
      13706.0
      5291.4
      209.4
      1998
      14046.2
      5453.3
      211.0
      1999
      14406.7
      5636.7
      221.7
      2000
      14764.2
      5817.1
      228.7
      2001
      14946.2
      5926.2
      228.7
      2002
      15310.4
      6031.4
      227.4
      2003
      15672.3
      6213.2
      234.4
      2004
      15947.0
      6316.5
      243.6
      2005
      16169.7
      6397.7
      243.1
      2006
      16484.3
      6492.7
      245.6
      2007
      16866.4
      6593.8
      247.4

       
      Compound average annual growth, %, 1987-2007
      Compound average annual growth, %, 2000-2007
      Canada
      1.58
      1.92
      Ontario
      1.50
      1.81
      London
      1.32
      1.13
    • Source: Employment levels from Statistics Canada CANSIM Tables 282-0053 (CMA data), 282-0055 (Canada and Provinces) and 282-0064 (CA data)
    • Employment Levels and Growth in London, Ontario and Canada, 1987, 1996-2007 (Continued), Employment Growth Over Previous Year
    		•
      Canada
      Ontario
      London
      1988
      3.1
      3.8
      5.5
      1996
      0.9
      1.3
      -2.4
      1997
      2.1
      2.4
      3.2
      1998
      2.5
      3.1
      0.8
      1999
      2.6
      3.4
      5.1
      2000
      2.5
      3.2
      3.2
      2001
      1.2
      1.9
      0.0
      2002
      2.4
      1.8
      -0.6
      2003
      2.4
      3.0
      3.1
      2004
      1.8
      1.7
      3.9
      2005
      1.4
      1.3
      -0.2
      2006
      1.9
      1.5
      1.0
      2007
      2.3
      1.6
      0.7
    • Source: Employment levels from Statistics Canada CANSIM Tables 282-0053 (CMA data), 282-0055 (Canada and Provinces) and 282-0064 (CA data)

      Related Articles:

      Table IX-1-a: Employment Rate (15+) in Vital Signs CMAs and CAs, 1987-2007
      Table IX-1-b: Employment Rate (15+) in Vital Signs Communities, 2001 and 2006
      Table IX-3-a: Employment Levels and Growth in Vital Signs Communities, 1987, 1996-2007
      Table IX-3-b: Employment Levels and Growth in Vital Signs Communities, 2001-2006
    • (back to top)
    •  
  • Unemployment Rate 15 Years of Age and Over 
    • In 2007, the unemployment rate in London was 6.1%. This was slightly above the national level (6.0%) and slightly below the Ontario provincial level (6.4%). Since 1987 the unemployment rate in London has decreased 1.0 percentage points from 7.1%.
    • Unemployment Rate (15+) in London CMA, Ontario and Canada 1987-2007
    		•
      Canada
      Ontario
      London
      1987
      8.8
      6.1
      7.1
      2000
      6.8
      5.8
      6.1
      2001
      7.2
      6.3
      6.4
      2002
      7.7
      7.1
      7.1
      2003
      7.6
      6.9
      6.8
      2004
      7.2
      6.8
      5.9
      2005
      6.8
      6.6
      6.6
      2006
      6.3
      6.3
      6.2
      2007
      6.0
      6.4
      6.1
      % of change, 1997–2007
      -2.8
      0.3
      -1.0
      % of change, 2006–2007
      -31.8
      4.9
      -14.1

    • Source: Statistics Canada.

      Note: The unemployment rates for the provinces based on Labour Force Survey Estimates, Cansim series v2170201, v2171065, v2171281, v2171497, v2171929, v2172145 Data from the labour force survey are based on an annual average.
      Related Articles:
      Table IX-2-a: Unemployment Rate (15+) in Vital Signs CMAs and CAs, 1987-2007

    • (back to top)

    •  

  • Unemployment Rate 15 to 24 Years of Age 
    • In 2006, the youth unemployment rate for London was 11.0%, 2.0 percentage points below the provincial rate (13.0%) and 0.2 percentage points below the national rate (11.2%). The rate in London is down 2.4 percentage points from 13.4% in 2000.
    • Unemployment Rates for Youth (15 to 24 Years) for London Economic Region, 1987-2007
    		•
      Canada
      Ontario
      London
      1987
      13.2
      9.5
      8.8
      1988
      11.5
      7.9
      7.2
      1989
      10.9
      7.7
      6.4
      1990
      12.3
      10.0
      10.4
      1991
      15.8
      15.1
      14.5
      1992
      17.2
      17.7
      16.1
      1993
      17.2
      17.7
      14.8
      1994
      15.9
      15.7
      11.3
      1995
      14.8
      14.7
      14.2
      1996
      15.4
      14.9
      15.0
      1997
      16.2
      16.4
      16.4
      1998
      15.2
      14.5
      14.5
      1999
      14.0
      13.2
      13.2
      2000
      12.7
      11.9
      11.9
      2001
      12.9
      12.5
      12.5
      2002
      13.6
      13.9
      13.9
      2003
      13.6
      14.4
      14.4
      2004
      13.4
      14.1
      14.1
      2005
      12.4
      13.9
      13.9
      2006
      11.6
      13.1
      13.1
      2007
      11.2
      13.0
      13.0
    • Source: Statistics Canada.
    • (back to top)
    •  
  • Building Permits: Non-Residential
    • The number of building permits issued provides information regarding the level of construction in a city. Specifically, non-residential building permits (all permits issued that do not include residential construction) indicate the amount of activity across commercial, industrial and investment areas. This type of activity is associated with job development and economic prosperity. In London, the percentage of non-residential building permits in London was slightly lower than the median for other similar municipalities (for more detailed information go to www.london.ca/City_Council/pdfs/26066-COL-CommReport.pdf).

    •
    • (back to top)
    •  
  • The Impact of Child Care Wait List on Employment
    • On January 1, 2007, the City of London implemented the new Provincial Income Test to determine eligibility for the Child Care Fee Subsidy Program. From January 2007 to January 2008, the demand in London for fee subsidies increased by more than 12%.

      Currently there are approximately 7,900 licensed childcare spaces available in the City of London. This is insufficient to meet demand and a wait list policy has been implemented to aid families seeking childcare. The current budget cannot support the demand.

    • Source: Neighbourhood and Children Services, courtesy of Kelly Smith, Manager, Children Services.
    • (back to top)
    •  
 

RELATED LINKS

Average and Median Earnings in Vital Signs CMA’s
Table IX-4-a: Average and Median Earnings in 2000 and 2005 for Persons Working Full Year Full-time in Vital Signs CMAs and CAs(2005 Dollars)
Table IX-4-b-i: Average and Median Hourly Earnings (in current dollars) for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions 1997-2007
Table IX-4-b-ii: Average and Median Real Hourly Earnings (in 2002 dollars) for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions 1997-200

Involuntary Part-Time Workers for Vital Signs CMA’s and Economic Regions
Table IX-6: Involuntary Part-time Workers for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997, 2006 and 2007
Appendix Table IX-6-i: Part-time Workers by Vital Signs CMA and Economic Region, In Thousands, 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-ii: Total Involuntary Part-time Employment by Vital Signs CMA and Economic Region, In Thousands, 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-iii: Involuntary Part-time Workers Who Looked for Full-Time Employment by Vital Signs CMA and Economic Region, In Thousands. 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-iv: Involuntary Part-time Workers Who Did Not Look for Full-Time Employment, In Thousands, for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-v: Involuntary Part-Time Employment as a Percentage of Total Part-Time Workers for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-vi: Part-Time Workers, Per cent Shares in Total Workers, for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-vii: Involuntary Part-Time Workers, Per cent Shares in Total Workers, for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997-2006
Appendix Table IX-6-viii: Involuntary Part-Time Workers Who Looked for Full-Time Employment, Per cent Shares in Total Workers for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997-2007
Appendix Table IX-6-ix: Involuntary Part-time Workers Who Did Not Look for Full-Time Employment, Per cent Shares in Total Workers for Vital Signs CMAs and Economic Regions, 1997-2007

LOCAL LINKS

London Employment Help Centre
http://www.lehc.ca

London Ontario and Area Employment Resources
http://www.donkeyorange.com/london_jobs/

London Services Canada Centre
http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/cgi-bin/hr-display.cgi?rc=3511&ln=e

Pathways Skill Development
http://pathways.on.ca/news/index.php

Association Canadienne francaise de l'Ontario: London-Sarnia
http://www.acfo-ls.org/en/chercheurs-emploi.htm

Links2Work
http://www.links2work.on.ca

LEADS Employment Services
http://www.leadsservices.com

 

If you have relevant data that helps us understand the issues that shape our community, please contact us to have it linked to this page.

London Community Foundation || 130 King Street, London, Ontario || 519 667-1600