Regional Business Surveys

The 2023 Employment Survey took place between May 8 and September 29, 2023. A team of Employment Surveyors from the Region’s Planning Services Division reached out to businesses in Halton in person, by phone or by email to gather updated business and employment information. Businesses were also able to respond through an online survey. Thank you to everyone who participated! 

2023 Survey Highlights

• Jobs increased by 1.4 per cent from 2022.
• Retail trade accounted for the highest number of total jobs (14.6 per cent) and businesses (17.6 per cent).
• Small businesses made up nearly 64 per cent of employers and accounted for about 43 per cent of jobs.
• More than 40 per cent of businesses and 49 per cent of jobs were located within Halton’s Employment Areas.
• Businesses providing professional, scientific and technical services had the highest rate of work-from-home arrangements, while businesses providing accommodation and food services had the lowest.
• About 49 per cent of employees in the Transportation and Warehousing sector work from home on typical day, while less than one per cent work from home in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.

The 2022 Employment Survey took place between May 9 and September 30, 2021. A team of Employment Surveyors from the Region’s Planning Services Division reached out to businesses in Halton in person and by phone or by email to gather updated business and employment information. Businesses were also able to respond through an online survey. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s survey.

The results of the Employment Survey are now available, and show increases to the total number of businesses and jobs.

2022 Survey Highlights

• The total number of jobs identified in 2022 increased by about 5,400 jobs from 2021, a 2.3 per cent increase.
• There was also an increase in the number of businesses identified compared to 2021, an increase by 220 businesses.
• Of the 7,410 businesses that responded to the survey question regarding working from home, about 23 per cent indicated that the businesses had a work-from-home arrangements with their employees.
• Employment Areas in Halton hosted more than 40 per cent of total businesses and 49 per cent of total jobs.

2021 Survey Results

The 2021 Employment Survey took place between May 10 and September 30, 2021. A team of nine Surveyors from the Region’s Planning Services Division reached out to businesses in Halton by phone or by email to gather updated business and employment information. Businesses were also able to respond through an online survey. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s survey.

The results of the Employment Survey are now available and show a positive future for the region’s recovery, despite the global impacts of COVID-19. Our local businesses have shown remarkable resilience and have adapted to the pandemic through work-from-home arrangements, new health and safety measures and an enhanced digital presence.

• 2021 Employment Survey Results Report (PDF file)

2021 Survey Highlights:

• Jobs in Halton increased by an estimated 2.8 per cent between 2020 and 2021.
• Businesses in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services sector saw the highest net estimated increase in jobs – a more than 17 per cent increase from 2020.
• More than 26 per cent of employers indicated they had staff work from home.
• Employment Areas in Halton hosted more than 41 per cent of total businesses and 51 per cent of total jobs.

2020 Employment Survey Results

The 2020 Employment Survey took place between September 14 and December 31, 2020. The results of the Employment Survey are now available online, and show the significant and widespread impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Halton’s business community.

• 2020 Employment Survey Results Report (PDF file)

2020 Survey Highlights

• The survey identified 13,647 businesses (a slight decrease from 13,650 businesses in 2019) and estimated 228,400 jobs (a decrease by 5.4 per cent from 241,423 jobs in 2019).
• Halton’s Employment Areas continue to play a significant role in supporting regional economic activities, with 43.8 per cent of total businesses and 53.6 per cent of total jobs located in these areas.
• In 2020, 4,973 businesses responded to the work-from-home survey question. 21.6 per cent of the responding businesses (1,072 businesses) indicated that the employees were working from home;
• The sector with the highest net decrease in total jobs was Accommodation and Food Services (a decrease of 3,800 jobs, or a 20.1 per cent decrease from 18,911 jobs in 2019); and
• The sector with the highest net increase in total jobs was Health Care and Social Assistance sector (an increase by 2,200 jobs, or an 8.7 per cent increase from 25,154 jobs in 2019).