Midland Needs New Jobs
The recent downturn in the economy has hit Midland particularly hard. Many of our citizens have been laid off, given reduced hours or been forced to commute outside of Midland to find employment. And less work means less money for our residents, our shop-keepers and our Town.
Our economic problems are not new. While exact numbers are hard to find, Midland’s and Pentanguishene’s largest industrial employers have lost some 900 positions since 2007 (This includes the closure of HPP and Bruin.)
The jobs that remain have been increasingly low-paying, leaving us well below wage levels found in other parts of Ontario.
......................................................Midland ....................Ontario
Median full-time earnings ...........$38,418 ...................$44,748
Statistics Canada 2006
Good jobs are essential to Midland and our future. In today’s world we must compete for those jobs with every other community in Ontario, and beyond. Attracting new jobs starts with a plan. Midland currently has no such plan. That must change.
Fortunately Midland has the raw material to get its economy back on track. These advantages include our remaining manufacturers, Georgian College - Midland and its “trades” mandate, and the concentration of health related institutions in our area.
As your mayor I will work with Council, the businesses and the citizens of Midland to:
- create a practical economic plan that will re-build our economy
- establish a working team to bring jobs back to Midland
- engage federal and provincial governments in helping us meet our goals
Media Release - Background
Midland (and area) industrial employers have been in decline for some time.
Year ...................Industrial Occupations* ............Total Labour Force
2001 ....................1,110 ...........................................7,355
2006 ...................1,030 ...........................................8,035
* Statistics Canada - Category J: Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and utilities
In recent years, Midland and area large manufacturers have lost many jobs.
Employment at Major Manufacturers in Midland and Penetanguishene
(Includes full time, part time and seasonal positions)
........................2007 ...........2008 .............2009 ............2010
Elcan ...............717 ..............830 ................930 ..............930
Techform .......600 ............400 ................300 ..............300
TRW ...............480 ............250 .................205 ..............205
CCL .................350 ............240 .................225 ..............180
Baytech ..........300 ............300 ................300 ..............300
Kindred ..........250 ............211 ..................210 ..............185
Schott (Daysco) 203 ........193 .................200 ..............170
Weber ............175 .............170 .................136 ..............136
Bruin ..............130 - - -
HPP ...............100 - - -
Total ..............3,305 ..........2,594 .............2,506 .........2,406
Source: Business Times Top 100 Report
For those that do have jobs, earnings are well behind the rest of the Province.
...........................................................Midland ...........Ontario
Median earnings (from a job) ........$24,431 .........$29,335
Median full-time earnings ...............$38,418 .........$44,748
Median household income .............$45,256 .........$60,455
Statistics Canada – 2006
1 comment:
It is most distressing to live in a community as livable and beautifull as Midland and to see so little active on the economic side. I think we need a good kick to wake us up as a community.
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