Halton's Labour Market
Excellent Location
The close proximity to other large urban centres such as Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo results in more than half of Halton residents commuting out of the region for work. 34% of Halton firms are located in Burlington, 41% in Oakville, 14% in Milton, and Halton Hills is home to 11% of companies in the region.
Educated and Stable
Halton has an affluent and highly educated population. It is estimated that 75% of Halton's residents have some sort of post-secondary education. According to the 2016 Census, approximately 35% of Halton's population has obtained a university level education, and an additional 21% have obtained a college diploma. Both of these proportions are higher than the proportions shown across Ontario.
Halton's annual average unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2021. This compares to a rate of 7.6% for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, 8.3% for Ontario and 7.7% for Canada. A combination of industry, labour and education provides for the development of a skilled workforce across the region.
Diverse Industries and Workforce
Halton region's economic success is anchored in its diversity. The region is home to a range of businesses across a variety of economic sectors. Halton is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario, with rapid population and labour force growth. For more information on Halton's workforce and economy, please click here.
Major Industries
Learn more about Halton's economic sectors and major industries using the resources below:
For more information about employers in Halton, please see the Halton Employers List
Chamber of Commerce
Use the Chamber of Commerce to do a "Business Search" in Halton for employers in your field:
Salaries and Wages
For up to date information, please visit Statistics Canada.
Starting a Business
Please consider the following resources to understand business ownership structures, registration of your business name, government regulations that may apply to your business and developing a business plan. For more information, please visit the Ontario Government's website, or the Halton Small Business Centre.