September Industry Snapshot: A Mixed Picture Across Industries in the Oshawa CMA
Employment in the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) totalled 256,400 in September 2026, down 3,100 from August and up 3,100 compared with September 2025.
Durham Workforce Authority’s September Employment by Industry report uses Statistics Canada data to examine employment across industries. The Oshawa CMA includes Oshawa, Whitby and Clarington. These figures describe employment among CMA residents, rather than jobs located within the City of Oshawa or Durham Region as a whole.
Largest industries by employment
Wholesale and retail trade was the largest industry group in September, with 38,500 people employed. Employment increased by 1,400 from August and by 3,200 compared with September 2025.
Health care and social assistance employed 28,200 people, an increase of 100 from August and a decrease of 2,100 from September 2025.
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing employed 25,000 people, up 700 from August and 3,100 year over year.
Together, these three industry groups accounted for approximately 36 per cent of total employment in the Oshawa CMA.
Industries with higher employment than a year earlier
Several industries recorded employment increases compared with September 2025:
| Industry | September 2026 employment | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and retail trade | 38,500 | +3,200 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 25,000 | +3,100 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14,000 | +2,500 |
| Accommodation and food services | 13,900 | +1,900 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 22,300 | +1,800 |
These figures measure changes in the number of employed people. They do not represent job postings or current vacancies.
Industries with lower employment than a year earlier
Educational services recorded the largest annual decline shown in the report, with employment decreasing by 8,300 to 18,100.
Manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and public administration also recorded lower employment than in September 2025.
| Industry | September 2026 employment | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Educational services | 18,100 | −8,300 |
| Manufacturing | 15,700 | −3,800 |
| Health care and social assistance | 28,200 | −2,100 |
| Public administration | 14,800 | −1,600 |
Utilities employment was unchanged from September 2025 at 8,100. Construction employed 21,500 people in September 2026; the report does not display its annual change.
Interpreting the figures
The report uses three-month moving averages that are not seasonally adjusted. September’s figures therefore reflect a three-month period rather than September alone. Seasonal employment patterns and sampling variability should be considered when interpreting changes.
Industry employment estimates describe how many people are employed, but they do not explain why employment changed. A decline does not establish how many people were laid off, just as an increase does not identify how many positions are currently available.
The figures provide context for workforce planning, career exploration and training discussions. They can be considered alongside job-posting data and information from employers and employment service providers to understand opportunities and workforce needs.
Read DWA’s September 2026 Employment by Industry report for the full industry breakdown.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0379-01: Employment by industry, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, census metropolitan areas. Data compiled by Durham Workforce Authority.