The State of Incomes in Durham
Household incomes in Durham Region are on the rise. From 2016 to 2021, the average after-tax income jumped by 18.6%, reaching $104,200. Ajax saw the highest increase at over 20%, while Brock was the only municipality to see a decline.
Income levels, however, reveal persistent inequality. Men continue to earn more than women across all age groups, and individuals without a high school diploma are significantly more likely to be unemployed or out of the labour force. For instance:
- Those with a university degree have a 73.2% employment rate.
- Those without a diploma are employed at just 25.4%.
Age also plays a role. People in their prime earning years (35–54) report the highest income levels, while those aged 15–24 earn significantly less and face greater job precarity.
These figures highlight the importance of targeted education and training programs, especially for youth, underrepresented groups, and low-income households. Financial security opens doors to long-term employment, housing stability, and community well-being.
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.