October 2024
In October 2024, the Hamilton CMA saw a consecutive 0.2% increase to their population, amounting to a population of 705,400. While the population grew, Hamilton’s labour force remained stable in October, following the 0.3% contraction in September. Participation among the region followed a declining trend in September. With the participation rate declining by 0.2% to 64.2%. Unemployment stagnant in October, with a steady unemployment rate of 6.2%. On the other hand, Hamilton’s employment rate declined mildly by 0.1% to 60.3%.
Unemployment Rate
Spotlight: October 2024, looking at unemployment rates within different CMAs, Hamilton had a relatively low unemployment rate of 6.2%. Whereas, larger CMAs such as Toronto had an unemployment rate of 8.0%. Similarly, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo CMA had an unemployment rate of 7.8%. Compared at the provincial level, Hamilton’s unemployment rate was 0.8% lower; and 0.3% lower than the national unemployment rate.
Next, looking to Hamilton’s unemployed population. Both female (-300, -0.2%) and male (-2.4K, -1.0%) groups saw their unemployed population decline in October. By age groups, Hamilton’s unemployed youth (17.5%; -0.8% from September) declined by 1,200 youths; core-working age individuals (25-54) (4.5%; -0.6% from September) by 1,500 persons; and older workers (55-64) (3.7%; -0.2% from September) by 200 workers.
Skills Landscape in Hamilton
Workforce Planning Hamilton’s Job Board collected almost 7,000 job postings in October. From this, we garnered insights into what skills Hamilton employers were hiring for. The top five skills employers were looking for were: 1) communication skills with 32%, 2) management skills with 26%; 3) customer service skills with 18%; 4) interpersonal skills with 16%; and 5) driving skills with 16% as well.
Industries
With an overall stagnation in the labour force in October, most industries saw modest gains and larger losses in employment. Businesses, Building and Support Services saw the largest gain of 5% from a monthly standpoint. Following was Transportation and Warehousing with an increase of 4%; and Accommodation and Food Services with an increase of 3%. The industry which saw the largest hit to employment was Agriculture, with a decline of 17% in employment. With Hamilton heading into the colder months, employment data will reflect the seasonal changes in industries such as Agriculture. Utilities, one of Hamilton’s largest contracting industries saw employment decline again in October. With a loss of 6% in employment. Following was Information, Culture and Recreation with an employment loss of 2%.
Occupations
From Workforce Planning Hamilton’s Job Board, the top in-demand job for October 2024 were Registered Nurses with 338 job postings. Following were Retail Salespersons (262), Cooks (233); Home Support Workers (204); and Food Service Jobs (185).
The top hiring employers were McMaster University (360), the City of Hamilton (234); Hamilton Health Sciences (174); St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (110); and Loblaws Companies Ltd (65).
Canada’s Sweet Tooth, Halloween Statistics
- In August 2024, Canada’s sugar and confection product manufacturing sector had over $500 million in shipment sales.
- From this, over $200 million came from chocolate and chocolate confectionery goods.
- Total revenue from the sugar and confectionery product manufacturing sector increased by 28% to $3.2 million, in 2022.
- Canadian households spent an average of $253 in 2021 on candies and chocolates.
- From September 2023 to September 2024, Sucro Can Canada was captured as Hamilton’s leading sugar and confection product manufacturing employer, with over half of the job postings on our Job Board.
- Back in 2022, Sucro Can Canada announced their intentions to more than double its Hamilton sugar refinery capacity to meet the growing demand in Canada.
- Among other companies hiring in the sector were Karma Candy and Purdys Chocolatier.