Economic profile: Hawkesbury, Ontario

Overview

Hawkesbury^{Footnote 1} has a population of 10,194, consisting of 32% seniors (65 and older), 56% working-age adults (15 to 64) and 12% children (under 15).

The key sectors of the economy in Hawkesbury, which account for 49% of the jobs in the region, are

• manufacturing
• retail trade
• health care and social assistance

There are 3,685 employed residents, of which 7.1% are immigrants.^{Footnote 2}

The economy generates a total of $424 million in household and business incomes, which amounts to $41,575 per resident.

General age structure – 2021

Sustainability

In order to support local services such as health care and social programs and maintain a good standard of living for everyone in the region, it is essential to have more working-age adults than seniors. Hawkesbury has fewer working-age adults than seniors compared to the average in Ontario.

From 2011 to 2021, Hawkesbury experienced

• a 3.4% decrease in population, compared to an 11% increase in the province
• a 36% increase in the population’s proportion of seniors, compared to a 27% increase in the province
• a 12% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, compared to a 4.1% decrease in the province

Population structure – Changes from 2011 to 2021

By 2031, without immigration,^{Footnote 3} the region could experience^{Footnote 4}

• an 8.4% decrease in population
• an 11% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, which could limit the availability and quality of local services
• a further increase in the population’s proportion of seniors by 24%, potentially changing the demand for local services, including health care and long-term care

No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031

Prosperity

The region relies heavily on working-age adults to keep local services running smoothly and to maintain a good standard of living and economic growth. Immigrants can help by filling job gaps and bringing new skills and ideas, which keeps the local economy strong.

From 2011 to 2021, Hawkesbury experienced

• a 10% decrease in workforce^{Footnote 5} size, compared to a 7.8% increase in the province
• a 62% increase in the number of immigrant workers, compared to a 9.5% increase in the province
• a total of 1,107 retirements,^{Footnote 6} which amounts to 27% of the 2021 workforce, compared to 16% in the province
• a change in the average income per resident from local jobs relative to the province, which is 29% lower than the average in Ontario in 2021

Economic changes from 2011 to 2021

By 2031, without immigration,^{Footnote 8} the region could experience^{Footnote 9}

• a further decrease in workforce size by 43%
• a 39% decrease in the number of jobs
• an increase in the proportion of seniors in the population from 32% to 39%

No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031

Supporting the community’s French-speaking population

Francophone immigration outside Quebec plays an important role in enhancing the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities across the country.

Hawkesbury is part of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This initiative supports the economic and socio-cultural integration of French-speaking newcomers.

In total, 86% of Hawkesbury’s population speaks French, with 71% speaking French as a first language and 15% as a second language.

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