Barriers to Work: Why Some People Are Still on the Sidelines
Unemployment by the Numbers
Roughly 22% of survey respondents identified as unemployed, with the majority having been out of work for less than 6 months. However, a significant portion—20%—have been unemployed for over 3 years, suggesting persistent barriers to re-entry.
Top Causes of Unemployment:
- Shortage of work / End of contract or season (28.5%)
- Lack of job fit (skills mismatch)
- Illness or injury
- Returning to school
The construction industry had the highest concentration of recently unemployed individuals.
The Skills Gap is Real
Among those looking to re-enter the workforce, 76% said they need more work experience, and 57% want more hands-on training. Despite many feeling confident in their core skills, there’s a clear demand for practical learning—especially for those targeting roles in business, finance, and middle management.
Out of the Workforce: Who’s Not Looking?
Another 6% of respondents identified as retired, homemakers, or on parental leave. While most retirees have no plans to return, about 42% of homemakers and those on leave expressed interest in part-time or full-time work. Their barriers included time out of the workforce, lack of current credentials, and difficulty accessing jobs in their community.
The key takeaway is people want to work—but many face real barriers. Better access to training, upskilling, and entry-level opportunities will help reduce long-term unemployment and bring more people back into the labour force.
About the DWA:
The DWA creates an annual plan supplying helpful information for community planning. The DWA hosts Jobs First Durham (JFD) a boutique job board with hyper-local information.
The DWA provides just-in-time custom labour market information and often conducts custom fee-for-service research. If you are interested in local data, please don’t hesitate to contact the DWA.
The Province of Ontario partially funds the DWA to supply Labour Market Information (LMI) to the Region of Durham.