Where the Jobs Were in 2025: Sector and Occupational Shifts in Durham Region
Hiring demand in Durham Region during 2025 became increasingly concentrated in essential services, care-based roles, and infrastructure-related occupations, reflecting broader demographic and economic pressures.
The health care and social assistance sector remained the largest source of job postings throughout the year, driven by aging demographics and sustained demand for care services. Retail trade continued to generate a high volume of postings, though ongoing declines suggest persistent turnover rather than expansion. Meanwhile, administrative and support services experienced a notable contraction, indicating longer-term shifts in staffing models and automation.
One of the most significant shifts in 2025 was the rise of utilities as the fastest-growing sector, increasing by 25% year over year. While smaller overall, this growth reflects increased demand for skilled, technical, and infrastructure-supporting roles in energy and public services.
Occupational trends mirrored these sectoral shifts. Retail salespersons, food counter attendants, and cooks remained among the most frequently posted roles, continuing to provide key entry points into the labour market. At the same time, demand for home support workers and caregivers remained strong, underscoring the structural nature of care-related labour needs in Durham.
These trends suggest that while entry-level service roles remain critical, long-term growth is increasingly linked to skilled, technical, and care-focused occupations.
These insights are drawn from the Durham Workforce Authority’s 2025 Annual Labour Market Insights Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of hiring activity, wages, skills demand, and jobseeker behaviour across Durham Region. Read the full report to explore the data in more detail.