Kingston-Pembroke Economic Region Workforce Insights

February, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 5,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 300 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 6,800 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 1,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 300 jobs from last month and decreased by 6,800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 people compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 5,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 500 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 5,200 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing: 18,100 workers.
  • Construction: 16,600 workers.
  • Agriculture: 3,400 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Construction, Agriculture, which together account for 95.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 38,800 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 37,000 workers.
  • Educational services: 24,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services lead employment, representing 52.3% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,300 workers (increased by 6.3%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,900 workers (decreased by 7.28%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 4.15%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 5.73%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 10%).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing: Change of 6,300 workers (decreased by 25.82%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 4,300 workers (decreased by 10.41%).
  • Public administration: Change of 3,500 workers (increased by 25.18%).
  • Educational services: Change of 3,400 workers (increased by 16.35%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 3,100 workers (decreased by 15.58%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

Local Workforce Insights

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Pembroke SLA consists of the following communities: Pembroke, Laurentian Valley.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 11,930 in December 2025, it reduced by 80 jobs from November and declined by 150 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 56.8%. It decreased by 0.3 percentage points from November and decreased by 0.6 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 5.9%. It went up by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 0.3 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 11,930, showing a moderate decrease of 80 from the previous month. From December last year, employment levels contracted by 150, showing strain.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.8% in December 2025. This represents a decline of 0.3 percentage points from November (57.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 57.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.9% in December 2025, up 0.5 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.6%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (0.18) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.28) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.41 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Pembroke SLA consists of the following communities: Pembroke, Laurentian Valley.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level

Pembroke SLA consists of the following communities: Pembroke, Laurentian Valley.

Scroll down to explore the data

Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 11,930, showing a moderate decrease of 80 from the previous month. From December last year, employment levels contracted by 150, showing strain.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.8% in December 2025. This represents a decline of 0.3 percentage points from November (57.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 57.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.9% in December 2025, up 0.5 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.6%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.28) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.41 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 1,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 300 jobs from last month and decreased by 6,800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 5,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 500 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 5,200 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing: 18,100 workers.
  • Construction: 16,600 workers.
  • Agriculture: 3,400 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Construction, Agriculture, which together account for 95.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 38,800 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 37,000 workers.
  • Educational services: 24,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services lead employment, representing 52.3% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,300 workers (increased by 6.3%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,900 workers (decreased by 7.28%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 4.15%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 5.73%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 10%).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing: Change of 6,300 workers (decreased by 25.82%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 4,300 workers (decreased by 10.41%).
  • Public administration: Change of 3,500 workers (increased by 25.18%).
  • Educational services: Change of 3,400 workers (increased by 16.35%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 3,100 workers (decreased by 15.58%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026
Economic region

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 93 small areas in Ontario, Pembroke ranks 40th with an employment rate of 56.8%. The provincial range is 42.5% to 66.2%, with half of areas between 53.6% and 59.0% (median: 56.0%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 93 small areas in Ontario, Pembroke ranks 29th with an unemployment rate of 5.9%. The provincial range is 4.7% to 14.7%, with half of areas between 5.7% and 7.1% (median: 6.2%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (geography)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization size)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization type)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by business size

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by organization type

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by geography

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (geography)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization size)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization type)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by business size

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by organization type

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by geography

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions