Economic Indicators - Employment - Economic Development Data Platform

Kingston-Pembroke Economic Region Workforce Insights

March, 2026

Key Insights

Employment decreased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment decreased by 2,100 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 200 jobs year-over-year.
Part-time Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,800 jobs year-over-year.
Unemployment decreased by 1,000 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 2,100 jobs from last month and decreased by 200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,000 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 3,000 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Manufacturing: 18,000 workers.
Construction: 16,600 workers.
Agriculture: 3,300 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Construction, Agriculture, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Health care and social assistance: 38,400 workers.
Wholesale and retail trade: 36,400 workers.
Educational services: 23,300 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services lead employment, representing 51.3% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Utilities: Change of 1,700 workers (decreased by 100%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 1,400 workers (increased by 8.33%).
Educational services: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 3.72%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 700 workers (increased by 5.79%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 1.62%).

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 7,500 workers (decreased by 29.41%).
Public administration: Change of 4,200 workers (increased by 32.06%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 6.91%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,400 workers (increased by 23.08%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,500 workers (decreased by 10.71%).

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, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

January, 2026

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 stands at 11,610 in January 2026, it decreased by 320 jobs from December and rose by 120 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate registered 55.3%. It went down by 1.5 percentage points from December and rose by 0.6 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate reached 6.3%. It went up by 0.4 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in January 2026 was 11,610, showing a substantial decrease of 320 from the previous month. Compared to January last year, employment levels gained 120, demonstrating resilience.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 55.3% in January 2026. This represents a decline of 1.5 percentage points from December (56.8%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.6 percentage points from 54.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.3% in January 2026, up 0.4 percentage points from December. Compared to January last year (6.2%), the rate has increased by 0.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.39) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.48) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.31 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

January, 2026

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.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in January 2026 was 11,610, showing a substantial decrease of 320 from the previous month. Compared to January last year, employment levels gained 120, demonstrating resilience.

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

Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 55.3% in January 2026. This represents a decline of 1.5 percentage points from December (56.8%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.6 percentage points from 54.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.3% in January 2026, up 0.4 percentage points from December. Compared to January last year (6.2%), the rate has increased by 0.1 percentage points.

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

Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

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

Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.31 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 March, 2026

Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 2,100 jobs from last month and decreased by 200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,000 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to last year.

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

Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 3,000 jobs.

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

Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Manufacturing: 18,000 workers.
Construction: 16,600 workers.
Agriculture: 3,300 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Construction, Agriculture, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Health care and social assistance: 38,400 workers.
Wholesale and retail trade: 36,400 workers.
Educational services: 23,300 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services lead employment, representing 51.3% of the sector's workforce.

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

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Utilities: Change of 1,700 workers (decreased by 100%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 1,400 workers (increased by 8.33%).
Educational services: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 3.72%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 700 workers (increased by 5.79%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 1.62%).

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

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

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

Manufacturing: Change of 7,500 workers (decreased by 29.41%).
Public administration: Change of 4,200 workers (increased by 32.06%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 6.91%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,400 workers (increased by 23.08%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,500 workers (decreased by 10.71%).

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 March, 2026

Economic region

Conclusion

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in Ontario, Pembroke ranks 40th with an employment rate of 55.3%. The provincial range is 41.1% to 65.6%, with half of areas between 51.9% and 57.9% (median: 54.7%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 94 small areas in Ontario, Pembroke ranks 29th with an unemployment rate of 6.3%. The provincial range is 4.8% to 12.1%, with half of areas between 6.1% and 7.1% (median: 6.5%).

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

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

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

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