Labour Force
More than you expect, all that you had hoped for, Amherstburg’s labour force is among the most educated and competent in Canada. The Towns ability to assemble a critical mass of creative workers constitutes an important local asset that will only get stronger with time, as will the welcoming community culture. Established in 1998 with the amalgamation of the Town of Amherstburg and the neighbouring townships of Anderdon and Malden, the present municipality of Amherstburg has a population of 21, 748.
Amherstburg’s total labour force is over 11, 000, with a potential regional labour force market of 375,000 people. The participation rate is 65.8 percent. The unemployment rate is projected to stay close to the provincial average for the next several years. Additionally, excellent training and educational resources are available through the University of Windsor and St. Clair College.
Finally, Amherstburg has a multilingual workforce approximately 10% of the population able to speak another language.
Labour Programs (Incentives)
Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit
The maximum tax credit per qualifying apprentice is $5,000 per taxation year up to a maximum of $15,000 over the first 36 months of the apprenticeship.
Eligible apprentices must be hired before January 1, 2008 and must be in a qualifying skilled trade. Qualifying skilled trades include designated construction, industrial and motive power trades, as well as some service trades.
Telephone
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-5514
Toronto and from outside Ontario: (416) 325-2929
TDD/TTY: 1-800-263-2892
Targeted Wage Subsidies
The Targeted Wage Subsidy Program is a federal program which provides a subsidy of wages and other costs to hire new employees with special needs. The subsidy covers a portion of training costs with negotiated wages and duration, generally 60 percent of wages for a period of up to 30 weeks. Amounts vary on a case by case basis depending on client circumstances. Eligible workers must be unemployed and currently receiving or have received employment insurance benefits in the last three years. Generally, the contribution ranges between $2000 and $5000 per new employee.
Service Canada Telephone
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-622-6232
Ontario Graduate Transition Tax Credit
The program targets unemployed graduates by encouraging business to provide work opportunities for students who have graduated within the last 3 years from a post-secondary program and are still without full-time employment (in 15 of the last 32 weeks). The program provides a 10-15% refundable tax credit for qualifying expenditures incurred in hiring unemployed Ontario post-secondary graduates. The maximum credit per new hire is up to $4000 (CDN) to offset wage and hiring costs.
Job Connect Program
Assistance with career planning and job-search techniques, work experience placements, and on-the-job training for Ontarians, primarily young people, to gain the skill and knowledge to find and keep jobs. The program targets disadvantaged youth by providing them with on-the-job-training opportunities. Once hired, the employer is eligible to receive a training subsidy of up to $3,000 (CDN) per employee hired.
Telephone
Employment Ontario Hotline at 1-800-387-5656
Labour Force by Industry
| Industry | Total | Male | Female |
| Total experienced labour force 15 years and over | 11,115 | 5,930 | 5,185 |
| Agriculture and other resource-based industries | 360 | 275 | 85 |
| Construction | 650 | 570 | 80 |
| Manufacturing | 2,810 | 2,200 | 615 |
| Wholesale trade | 265 | 215 | 50 |
| Retail trade | 1,155 | 455 | 700 |
| Finance and real estate | 440 | 165 | 280 |
| Health care and social services | 1,265 | 195 | 1,070 |
| Educational services | 755 | 175 | 580 |
| Business services | 1,280 | 695 | 590 |
| Other services | 2,115 | 985 | 1,130 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Community Profiles, 2006
Unemployment
| Amherstburg | Ontario | |||||
| Unemployment Rate | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female |
| 2006 Census | 6.78 | 5.89 | 7.78 | 6.43 | 6.04 | 6.85 |
| 2001 Census | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.5 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Community Profiles, 2006 Wage Rates by Occupation
Wage Rates by Occupation
| Amherstburg | Ontario | |
| Occupation | Hourly Wage Rate | Hourly Wage Rate |
| CAD/Drafting Technician | $22 | $22 |
| Data Entry Operator | $15 | $14 |
| Electrician | $25 | $25 |
| Machinist | $24 | $23 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $28 | $28 |
| Mechanical Technician | $22 | $24 |
| Millwright | $25 | $25 |
| Production Assembler (Non-machine) | $16 | $16 |
| Production General Labourer |