Research and Reports
Labour Market Plan
The Durham Workforce Authority develops an annual labour market planning document that provides new and emerging actions, including a three-year outlook. This just-in-time labour market information addresses immediate issues and offers data-driven recommendations to address emerging workforce challenges in Durham Region.
Annual Local Labour Market Plans can be accessed here.
Durham Workforce Survey
The DWA surveys the supply and demand for labour in our Region in alternating years. An employer survey was completed in 2025, and a workforce survey will be conducted in 2026. This survey is designed to gather insights from residents of Durham Region regarding their skills, current employment status, and employment goals. It is a key aspect of understanding the dynamic workforce landscape, and the results will inform future workforce development strategies, educational programs, and employment initiatives based on the identified needs and aspirations of Durham Region residents.
Cluster Mapping Data Walk
This will be a community-focused learning event that brings Durham Workforce Authority’s economic cluster data to life through an interactive, visual format. Designed to support a more integrated approach to economic and workforce development, the event aligns with Invest Durham’s cluster strategy by connecting industry trends (NAICS) with in-demand occupations (NOC). Participants will build a shared understanding of how key sectors are evolving and where workforce demand is growing, while exploring opportunities for coordinated action to support thriving clusters in Durham Region and to support more informed and inclusive decision-making across the region.
Jobs Report
This report is a comprehensive analysis of employment opportunities in Durham Region that do not require advanced formal education but still offer the key characteristics of a “good job’. It will examine how job quality is defined by workers, employers, and labour market stakeholders, while identifying the barriers and enablers that influence access to these opportunities. It will result in a data-informed, accessible, and action-oriented resource that helps regional partners understand where strong opportunities exist and how they can be strengthened to meet both workforce and employer needs.
Engaging Youth in Precision Agriculture
With the DWA’s support, Durham Farm Connections and Invest Durham co-hosted a Precision Agriculture Day in May 2024. This event engaged students from the Specialist High Skills Majors programs offered through school boards in the Region to better understand the in-demand occupations in this important agriculture subsector. Students learned about the available education and employment pathways through hands-on participation and presentations.
Precision agriculture uses technology to grow crops efficiently, leveraging data that enables farmers to make informed decisions about how to manage their land. This improves operational productivity, reduces waste, and promotes environmental sustainability.
To learn more, check out:
Blog: Drones in Precision Agriculture
Blog: Precision Agriculture at Algoma Orchards
Clip of Global News Durham’s coverage of the event:
Design by Durham Workforce Authority
Durham Workforce Survey Report
The DWA surveys the supply and demand for labour in our Region in alternating years, with a workforce survey conducted in 2024. The survey was designed to gather insights from residents of Durham Region regarding their skills, current employment status, and employment goals. It is a key aspect of understanding the dynamic workforce landscape, and the results will inform future workforce development strategies, educational programs, and employment initiatives based on the identified needs and aspirations of residents in Durham Region.
Pathways to Skilled Trades Report (Click to download)
Developed in partnership with the Literacy Network of Durham Region (LiNDR), this report provides key insights into the region’s skilled trades sector, highlighting the critical role of apprenticeships in driving Durham’s economy and promoting lifelong learning. The report identifies significant skills gaps in priority clusters like Agri-Food and Future Energy and emphasizes the importance of apprenticeships in addressing these gaps. It also explores challenges such as navigating complex apprenticeship pathways and the underutilization of Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs. With practical recommendations for improving collaboration, training, and public awareness, it is a valuable tool for strengthening Durham Region’s workforce and supporting sustainable economic development.
The Lakeview Oshawa: Community & Workforce Development Report (Click to download)
The Lakeview Neighbourhood in Oshawa, with its unique demographic and economic characteristics, faces specific labour market challenges and is recognized as one of five priority neighbourhoods in Oshawa. This report builds on insights from previous reports summarizing feedback from community consultations. It outlines actionable strategies to continue enhancing service delivery, improving employment outcomes, and facilitating greater community engagement and development in the Lakeview neighbourhood.
Persons with Disabilities Report (Click to download)
Youth with multiple barriers, especially those with mental, intellectual and physical disabilities, typically experience high unemployment after exiting the education system, and finding program supports to assist employment readiness can be difficult.
The Ontario Labour Market Partnership (OLMP) grant aims to identify and address the employment challenges faced by youth with disabilities by connecting and collaborating with service providers, support organizations and community members to develop effective solutions. To support this goal, the Durham Workforce Authority (DWA) – mandated to work to improve the availability of labour market information – has initiated research to explore the experiences of youth with disabilities in the Durham Region who have employment aspirations and goals.
This project was a multi-stage initiative with three phases, each focusing on distinct objectives and components. These phases were sequentially conducted, with findings and developments from each phase informing the next. These phases culminated in this comprehensive final report that synthesizes insights, outcomes, and recommendations from the entire project.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Research Strategy Development Report (Click to download)
The pandemic revealed that women, youth, persons with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+ Community and others are at a far greater risk of labour market shocks. As part of this research and a permanent change in research strategy, the DWA has created a research standard that applies an equity lens to all data collection in the future to broaden the understanding of the local labour market.
The Pandemic in Labour Report (Click to download)
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 Durham Region.