High proportion of jobs in Windsor-Sarnia at risk in tariff threats

A truck crosses the Bluewater Bridge border crossing between Sarnia, Ont., and Port Huron, Michigan on Sunday August 16, 2020. (Source: The Canadian Press/Geoff Robins)

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, across the board unemployment declined a modest 0.1 per cent last month.

Latest studies also highlight the proportion of Canadians employed in industries dependent on US demand, with jobs supported by the trade relationship now at risk due to tariff threats by incoming US president Donald Trump.

Based on Labour Force Survey estimates, 1.8 million people worked in industries where 35 per cent or more of the jobs involved depended on US demand for Canadian exports. That represents 8.8 per cent of total employment.

Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Alberta had the highest share of jobs reliant on American demand for Canadian exports, clocking in at 22.8 per cent. Other industries with proportionally large amounts of jobs reliant on American trade included communities in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Here in Ontario, Windsor-Sarnia made the list, with a notable 15.4 per cent of jobs in the region at risk.

The report from Statistics Canada also noted that employment in industries dependent on US demand tend to pay higher wages – with the average hourly wage sitting at $37.24, 6.5 per cent higher than the average of $34.97.