Sarnia-Lambton is Seeing Population Growth, But Many are withdrawn, According to the most recent census data.
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“Working age population. . . We’re not seeing that growth, “Said Mikelle Bryson-Campbell, Head of the Sarnia Lambton WorkForce Development Board That Collects and Analyzes Local WorkForce Data.
“Really for a Community to Thrive and Build that tax base, we need that working age, or we need those age 55 and up to work,” she said, at a recent presentation about sarnia-lambton workforce trends.
Comparing Population Totals from the 2016 and 2021 censuses – Lambton Grew 1.2 per cent to 128,000 in 2021 – The Number of People Ages 25 to 54 in the Community Actuelly Fell, About 2,200, She Said.
Meanwhile, there was a 3,600-Person Population Bump via The 55-Plus Demographic, Bryson-Campbell Said About the Recently Published Census Results.
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A 16-per-cent drop in arts, entertainment and recreation positions to 900 in 2021-While the overall provincial trend was about steady-is indicative of the population shift, she said.
The Number of Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Businesses was also cut in Half, to 585, She Said, While the Number Provincially Grew by About 56 per cent.
BRYSON-CAMPBEL BUSTIONED SOE BUSINESS MAY HAVE SIMPLY BEEN REPLASSIFIED IN THE DATA COLLECTION PROCESS.
Younger Need Jobs populations, but also thrings to do, she Said.
“If we not see Growth in That Sector, That Could Be A Problem when We look later on.”
Sales and Service Positions Were also Down, 13 per hundred to 12.765, in 2021 versus 2016, She Said, Noting Those tend to be entry-learl positions.
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And Apprentices Were also Getting Older, She Said.
Sectors where sarnia-lambton has been seeing growth include construction, oil and gas extraction, real estate, agriculture, and health care, she Said, While Manufacturing, Warehousing and Accomdotation and Food Industries Have Been on the Decline.
A WorkForce Development Board Study is Planned Starting in April Into Why the Area Struggles to Attract Manufacturing, She Said.
When it comes to amployment, Sarnia-Lambton’s Rate Tends to be Higher Than Other Areas in the Region, She Said.
“We do not know exactly why,” She Said, Suggesting Some Reasons Could Be One One One One Person Working Per Household – Average Household Income in the Community is Relatively High – and Lack of Childcare Spaces, She Said.
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Unmployment in Sarnia-Lambton was 10.2 per cent in December, compared to 9.2 per cent in Chatham-Kent, and 8.1 per cent in Windsor-Essex, According to the Board’s Most recent data.
“Interestingly Enough, We Still Have Employers Struggling to Fill Positions, It’s Just very Sector Specific,” She Said, Highlighting Early Childhood Education, Francophone Positions, and Development Service Work Asams.
The Area’s WorkForce is Highly Skilled and Above Average Provincially in Terms of College Diplomas and Trades Certification, She Said.
It lags Compared to Ontario’s average when it is university degrees per capita, but saw that number rise by about 2,000, to 15.7 per cent, between 2016 and 2021, she Said.
“We have the workforce here, we just need to have their trained in the right fields to meet that demand,” she said.
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