Welcome to Durham Workforce Authority

Our 2023 Employer Survey is Now Open

What We’re Doing – surveying employers to understand better how our community can support their skills development needs and their efforts to attract and retain the talent they need to succeed.

Why It Matters – the DWA shares its research findings with the community, creating a sound and valid basis upon which businesses and organizations can develop data-driven strategies to continue driving the Durham Region forward.

How You Can Help – taking a few minutes to complete our survey, you help ensure that our data is representative of the diverse experiences of employers in Durham.  This enables us to continue providing valuable labour market information to support data-driven decision-making for businesses, economic developers and community service organizations in Durham Region.

Take the Employer Survey Now! 

Most Recent Reports from the Durham Workforce Authority

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Research Strategy Development

The pandemic has revealed that women, youth, persons with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+ Communities and others are at a far greater risk of labour market shocks.  The DWA will move to embed an EDI lens throughout all future research the DWA completes in the future.

As part of this permanent change in research strategy, the DWA has created a research standard that applies an equity lens to all future data collection.  This will broaden the understanding of the local labour market. The standard seeks to find appropriate data collection and reporting methods that are not exclusive or colonial, connecting to new community partners to better serve job seekers, learners, and those with lived experience.

Local Labour Market Plan (LLMP) Update

The DWA prepares an annual Local Labour Market Plan for Durham Region that provides timely labour market information and qualitative and quantitative analysis and recommendations.  This community-responsive Local Labour Market planning document provides new and emerging actions and a three-year outlook, including just-in-time labour market information that addresses the immediate labour market issues facing the Durham Region because of the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pandemic in Labour Report

Employers throughout the Durham Region have expressed concerns that they cannot recruit or retain labour across all sectors and occupation profiles. This report explores a new approach to LMI, employer engagement and the future of work in the Durham Region.

Thank You for Attending our 2023 Data Walk!

The DWA was thrilled to be able to host our 2023 Data Walk in person at the historic 420 Wing in north Oshawa.  The 2023 Data Walk explores SSM clients, community profiles, the unemployment and job vacancy rates.

Click Here to Download the 2023 Data Walk Posters

Click Here to Download the 2023 Data Walk Community Snapshot

Labour Market Information (LMI) Video Series

Here at DWA, we have created a video series all about LMI to inform the community about the importance of LMI and to provide Employment Ontario Service Providers, Economic Development and Chambers of Commerce, Community Partners, Employers, and Job Seekers with access to timely LMI data and analysis.

The 11 videos include, but are not limited to: the eight indicators, the monthly labour force survey data for Oshawa CMA, local custom data that are legacy pieces from the LEPC, and other critical pieces of labour market information in an accessible format.

Click any of the titles below to watch the video, or click here to view the whole playlist!

1. Definition of CMA

2. Key Components of Labour Fore Survey

3. Labour Market Information

4. DWA 101

5. Canadian Business Count

6. Durham Region Key Sectors Overview

7. Durham Region Key Sectors and Employment Levels (1/2)

8. Durham Region Key Sectors and Employment Levels (2/2)

9. Basic Labour Market Indicators Overview

10. Basic Labour Market Indicators (1/2)

11. Basic Labour Market Indicators (2/2)