Northern Policy Institute - Evidence-based solutions, for and from Northern Ontario

Labour for Lithium

Thunder Bay could become home to a lithium processing facility. For such a facility to locate in Thunder Bay, however, qualified workers are needed in a number of professions. Fortunately, Northwestern Ontario can provide the required workforce by 2026. While rising labour demand and high rates of retirement creates a risk of labour shortages in certain professions, new graduates from local education and training programs can fill these potential shortages.

Infographic: Skilled Trades in Greater Sudbury

Greater Sudbury is a great place to work in the skilled trades. Compared to the Ontario average, median wages for skilled trade workers are 4 per cent higher in Greater Sudbury. In certain trades, median wages are as much as 20 per cent higher. Workers will find many opportunities to earn these high wages. The number of job postings for skilled trades was 17 per cent above the national average in 2021 and 2022, and projected growth in job postings is 30 per cent above the national average.

Prospects for the Mile of Gold: An Economic Profile of Kirkland Lake

The Town of Kirkland Lake is a community in the Timiskaming District with an official population of just under 8,000. Kirkland Lake also attracts many workers from other communities, making the town a hub of economic activity for more than just its full-time residents. The town continues to have a large mining sector and has seen rising employment in other industries in recent years, including Utilities, Arts, entertainment and recreation, and Wholesale trade. Over the past decade, incomes have risen in Kirkland Lake while the cost of living, particularly in terms of housing affordability, has remained lower than elsewhere in Ontario.

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The Prosperity Continues: An Updated Snapshot of Temiskaming Shores

Temiskaming Shores, a community of just under 10,000 people, is the economic hub for the Lesser Clay Belt region and offers many opportunities to individuals and businesses. In recent years, Temiskaming Shores has seen rising incomes and an increase in the number of businesses, while the cost of housing remains low. The community is aging, but also diverse with many French-speaking, Indigenous, and Immigrant residents.

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