Find current statistics and analysis on the local labour force, population numbers, employment by industry or occupation and educational attainment.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Labour force information on employment in Sarnia Lambton will be delayed. In the meantime, we will be providing updates on the Labour force statistics for the entire Economic Region 3570 which includes Lambton, Chatham-Kent and Essex.
Current Indicators
2020 Unemployment Rate (%)
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarnia Lambton | 6.4 | 8.6 | ||||||||||
| Chatham-Kent | 6.7 | 9.0 | ||||||||||
| Windsor Essex | 7.8 | 7.1 | ||||||||||
| Economic Region 570 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 10.7 | 14.7 |
2020 Sarnia Lambton Employment Numbers
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of employed persons | 58,500 | 57,200 | ||||||||||
| # of unemployed persons | 4,000 | 5,400 |
2019 Unemployment Rate (%)
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarnia Lambton | 6.2 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.6 |
| Chatham-Kent | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.3 |
| Windsor Essex | 5.2 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| Economic Region 570 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.7 |
2019 Sarnia Lambton Employment Numbers
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of employed persons | 60,900 | 60,400 | 60,600 | 60,900 | 61,000 | 59,800 | 59,300 | 59,200 | 59,400 | 59,900 | 59,300 | 58,900 |
| # of unemployed persons | 4,100 | 4,600 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 3,600 | 4,200 | 4,100 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,400 | 4,700 | 4,800 |
*Statistics Canada. Labour Force Survey, 2018.
Note: Statistics Canada updates their estimates for labour force statistics. Published unemployment rates & employment numbers listed above are updated to reflect these changes.
Census Division and Subdivisions in Lambton County
The census divisions of Ontario are used by Statistics Canada to aggregate census data. The following chart depicts the population size of various cities in Lambton County in 2016.
| 2016 Population Sizes | |
|---|---|
| Lambton County | 126,638 |
| Aamjiwnaang | 639 |
| Brooke-Alvinston | 2,411 |
| Dawn-Euphemia | 1,967 |
| Enniskillen | 2,796 |
| Kettle & Stony Point | 1,011 |
| Lambton Shores | 10,631 |
| Oil Springs | 648 |
| Petrolia | 5,742 |
| Plympton-Wyoming | 7,795 |
| Point Edward | 2,037 |
| Sarnia | 71,594 |
| St.Clair | 14,086 |
| Walpole Island | 1,589 |
| Warwick | 3,692 |
*Source: Statistics Canada. 2017. Population and dwelling count highlight tables. 2016 Census. Catalogue no. 98-402-X2016001. Ottawa.
Labour Force Activity
Below are employment data ‘fast facts’ for the Sarnia Lambton community. For more detailed local labour market information, consult our Local Labour Market Reports.
| Labour Force Activity | 2011 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Population – 15 Years and Older | 104,360 | 105,015 |
| Workforce | 62,155 | 61,465 |
| Employed | 56,245 | 56,485 |
| Unemployed | 5,910 | 4,975 |
| Not in the Workforce | 42,205 | 43,555 |
| Participation Rate | 59.6% | 58.5% |
| Employment Rate | 53.9% | 53.8% |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5% | 8.1% |
*Source: Statistics Canada 2011, 2016
Employment Population Statistics
Below are population numbers for census division by industry and by occupation in Lambton County in 2016.
| Employment by Industry (Top 10) | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 7,670 |
| Manufacturing | 6,495 |
| Retail Trade | 6,490 |
| Construction | 4,910 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 4,330 |
| Educational Services | 3,580 |
| Other Services (Except Public Administration) | 2,835 |
| Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,755 |
| Professional, Scientific Technical Services | 2,730 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 2,560 |
*Source: Statistics Canada 2016
| Employment by Occupation (Top 10) | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Sales and Service | 13,605 |
| Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators | 10,295 |
| Business, Finance and Administration | 6,975 |
| Management | 6,000 |
| Education, Law and Social, Community and Government Services | 5,620 |
| Health | 4,505 |
| Natural and Applied Sciences | 3,775 |
| Occupations in Manufacturing and Utilities | 3,300 |
| Natural Resources, Agriculture and Related Production | 1,485 |
| Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport | 920 |
*Source: Statistics Canada 2016
Educational Attainment
Below is a chart depicting Lambton County’s overall Educational Attainment for those aged 15 years and over, 2016
| Educational Attainment | 2016 |
|---|---|
| No Certificate, Diploma or Degree | 17,615 |
| High School Certificate or Equivalent | 30,835 |
| Apprenticeship, Trades Certificate or Diploma | 11,075 |
| College, CEGEP or other Non-University Certificate or Diploma | 29,275 |
| University Certificate, Diploma or Degree or Above | 14,825 |
*Source: Statistics Canada 2016
Employers: Top Industries
Below are the top industries in which large, medium and small employers operate in Lambton County.
Large employers (500 employees and over)
| Industry | # of Large Businesses |
|---|---|
| Educational services | 2 |
| Hospitals | 2 |
| Heavy and civil engineering construction | 1 |
| Petroleum and coal product manufacturing | 1 |
| Chemical manufacturing | 1 |
| Pipeline transportation | 1 |
| Repair and maintenance | 1 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 1 |
| Ambulatory health care services | 1 |
| Total (not all are listed here) | 13 |
Medium employers (100-499 employees)
| Industry | # of Medium Businesses |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory health care services | 6 |
| Nursing and residential care | 6 |
| Chemical manufacturing | 5 |
| Specialty trade contractors | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 4 |
| Petroleum and coal product manufacturing | 3 |
| Local, municipal and regional public administration | 3 |
| Crop production | 3 |
| Food and beverage stores | 3 |
| Total (not all are listed here) | 75 |
Small employers (1-99 employees)
| Industry | # of Small Businesses |
|---|---|
| Specialty trade contractors | 275 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 258 |
| Ambulatory care services | 249 |
| Food services and drinking places | 230 |
| Religious, grant-making, civic, and professional and similar organizations | 142 |
| Repair and maintenance | 121 |
| Construction of buildings | 120 |
| Total (not all are listed here) | 3,460 |
Source: Statistics Canada. Canadian Business Counts, June 2019.
Note: Data source counts each location as a separate business entity.