Strong work ethics and high retention rates are characteristics of the local labour force, which is one of the
greatest benefits of doing business in Belleville. The quality of life that Belleville offers plays a great role in
attracting job seekers from outside of the region to the City. Labour is generally drawn from a 40-50 km
radius around the City of Belleville, representing a population base of more than 200,000 skilled and unskilled,
motivated people. The Greater Quinte Area’s labour force numbers are 100,000 strong.
Our labour force tends to be more highly trained in the skilled trade areas, which is a significant reason for the
strong and diverse industrial sector located in the City of Belleville. Overall, the population of this community is
more highly educated than in Ontario and Canada as a whole, but post secondary education is more strongly
oriented towards technical training than university.
Employment and unemployment rates for the City of Belleville are calculated by Human Resources
Development Canada (HRDC), a department of the Government of Canada which maintains a regional office
in the City of Belleville. HRDC publishes information on a regional basis and the City of Belleville is included
in their economic region 515.
This region also includes the Counties of Hastings, Prince Edward, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington and Renfrew.
An additional factor in ensuring there is always a large available labour pool, but which is not reflected in the
published statistics, is the inordinately high level of seasonal or part-time employment in the Belleville area.
Many of these people are under-employed and eager to apply their skills in areas more aligned with their interests.
For these reasons, new employers are able to easily recruit qualified and fully-trained staff. This reduces
start-up costs and improves production start-up schedules.
| Year |
Region 3515* |
Ontario* |
Canada** |
| 2006 |
6.2% |
6.2% |
6.2% |
| 2007 |
5.1% |
6.3% |
6.0% |
| 2008 |
6.1% |
6.4% |
6.1% |
| 2009 |
8.1% |
8.9% |
8.2% |
| 2010 |
8.2% |
8.7% |
8.0% |
| 2011 |
7.4% |
7.9% |
7.5% |
| 2012 (January) |
5.8% |
7.4% |
8.0% - monthly unadjusted |
|
|
|
|
| *Region 3515 and Ontario rates reflect 3 month moving averages, unadjusted |
| **Canada rates reflect monthly, unadjusted |
|
|
Canada has the second lowest manufacturing wages in the G-7, and Belleville offers some of the most competitive wages in the country, ranging from just over $10.25 per hour to $22.00 per hour and up for skilled labour.
The City of Belleville provides an affordable life style with a very high quality of life. This combination of affordability and quality of life has made the Quinte region an attraction for those seeking an alternative to large urban centres. This has enabled the City of Belleville to attract and retain skilled labour at lower costs, which translates into a competitive advantage for local industry. A highly skilled labour force with a dedication to its community and its employer is a proven combination hard to beat.