Bachelor of Commerce (Digital Marketing) - Postsecondary ...

C. Detailed Findings
Section 1. Labour Market Overview
Regional Labour Market
Industry Profile
In 2009, employment in the Western region was concentrated in three industries: manufacturing (16%),
wholesale and retail trade (15%), and health care and social assistance (12%). 22 Four business‐related
sectors comprised about 20% of the regional economy: finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (6%),
professional, scientific and technical services (5%), management, administration and other support (4%),
and public administration (4%).
Between 2008 and 2009, there were employment gains in some sectors, including agriculture (up 11%
or 5,800 jobs), finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (up 1% or 1,400 jobs), and health care and
social assistance (up 1% or 2,900 jobs). Given the Western region’s higher than average concentration of
manufacturing jobs (16% compared to 14% provincially), the sharp decline in manufacturing
employment between 2008 and 2009 (down 11% or 35,300 jobs) had a much greater impact on the
Western region than other parts of Ontario. There was no change in professional, scientific and technical
services employment, and a modest decline of 1% in wholesale and retail trade. Job losses were
somewhat larger in management, administration and other support (4%), and public administration
(2%).
Occupational Profile
In 2009, about one‐quarter of Western region workers (24%) were in sales and service occupations. 23
Business, finance and administrative professionals, and workers in trades, transport and equipment
operators and related occupations each comprised about 16% of the region’s workforce. With the
recession, large declines in employment were experienced in business, finance, and administrative
occupations (down 5% or 13,300 jobs). Management occupations, representing a smaller share of
regional employment (about 9%), also experienced a 5% decline since 2008.
Labour Market Trends
Demographic factors such as the aging workforce and slowing of the overall birthrate are factors that
are driving increased labour demand in many occupations in all industrialized countries.
The HRSDC report, Looking‐Ahead: A 10‐Year Outlook for the Canadian Labour Market (2008–2017),
estimates that nationally, the rate of growth for business, finance, and administration occupations is
expected to equal the average rate of growth for all occupations. 24 However, in some occupations,
such as Human Resources Professionals (NOC 112), Administrative and Regulatory Occupations (NOC
22 Labour Market Information & Research, Research and Planning Branch, MTCU. (2010, April). Labour Market Information. Employment
Ontario Western Region. 2009 Annual Labour Market Report. Toronto: Author.
23 Ibid.
24 HRSDC, Policy Research Directorate, Strategic Policy and Research Branch (2008, November). Looking‐Ahead: A 10‐Year Outlook for the
Canadian Labour Market (2008–2017). Gatineau: Author.
LKSB Degree Program Feasibility Study • 2011
179