Economic profile: Madawaska County, New Brunswick
Overview
Madawaska CountyFootnote 1 has a population of 32,603, consisting of 27% seniors (65 and older), 61% working‑age adults (15 to 64) and 12% children (under 15).
The key sectors of the economy in Madawaska County, which account for 52% of the jobs in the region, are
- health care and social assistance
- manufacturing
- retail trade
There are 14,060 employed residents, of which 3.7% are immigrants.Footnote 2
The economy generates a total of $1.5 billion in household and business incomes, which amounts to $46,576 per resident.
General age structure – 2021
| In the region | In the province | |
|---|---|---|
| % children (under 15) | 12% | 14% |
| % working-age adults (15 to 64) | 61% | 63% |
| % of seniors (65 and older) | 27% | 23% |
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. Madawaska County has fewer working-age adults than seniors compared to the average in New Brunswick.
From 2011 to 2021, Madawaska County experienced
- a 2.5% decrease in population, compared to a 3.3% increase in the province
- a 55% increase in the population’s proportion of seniors, compared to a 39% increase in the province
- a 12% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, compared to an 8.2% decrease in the province
Population structure – Changes from 2011 to 2021
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | -2.5% | +3.3% |
| Proportion of children | -10% | -5.2% |
| Proportion of working-age adults | -12% | -8.2% |
| Proportion of seniors | +55% | +39% |
By 2031, without immigration,Footnote 3 the region could experienceFootnote 4
- a 7.0% decrease in population
- a 12% 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 32%, potentially changing the demand for local services, including health care and long-term care
No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | -7.0% | -3.8% |
| Proportion of children | -13% | -14% |
| Proportion of working-age adults | -12% | -7.5% |
| Proportion of seniors | +32% | +29% |
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, Madawaska County experienced
- a 9.2% decrease in workforceFootnote 5 size, compared to a 1.5% decrease in the province
- a 27% decrease in the number of immigrant workers, compared to a 58% increase in the province
- a total of 3,918 retirements,Footnote 6 which amounts to 25% of the 2021 workforce, compared to 21% in the province
- a change in the average income per resident from local jobs relative to the province, which is 4.4% lower than the average in New Brunswick in 2021
Economic changes from 2011 to 2021
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce | -9.2% | -1.5% |
| Immigrant workers | -27% | +58% |
| Retirement as % of 2021 workforce | 25% | 21% |
| Wage income generated from jobsFootnote 7 | +23% | +25% |
By 2031, without immigration,Footnote 8 the region could experienceFootnote 9
- a further decrease in workforce size by 42%
- a 40% decrease in the number of jobs
- an increase in the proportion of seniors in the population from 27% to 36%
No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce | -42% | -39% |
| Retirement as % of 2031 workforce | 39% | 33% |
| Number of jobs | -40% | -35% |
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.
Madawaska County includes the city of Edmundston, which 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, 94% of Madawaska County’s population speaks French, with 88% speaking French as a first language and 6.1% as a second language.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are from the 2011, 2016, or 2021 editions of the Statistics Canada Census, and all calculations are from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis.
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