Labour Force 

One of Quinte West's greatest assets is a strong labour force, combined with a number of support programs available through local organizations. Industries in Quinte West have retained skilled employees who possess a wide range of mechanical, industrial, and technical skills.

The Loyalist Training and Knowledge Centre specializes in industrial training and customized courses to develop a wide range of skills. These include mechanical, electrical, fork lift training, PLCs, SPCs, welding, hydraulics, pneumatics, machine shop, and health and safety issues including all compliance training. Training is
also offered in areas of organizational and personal development skills including leadership, supervision, team skills, communication skills, personal effectiveness,
ISO 9000 and many more.

Other highlights of Quinte West's labour force include:

• Labour force of over 100,000 people within a 45-minute commute
• A noted strong rural work ethic
• Weak Union presence
• Competitive wage rates
• A large French-speaking or bilingual population
• Strong work ethic which results in low turnover and absenteeism rates

The City of Quinte West attracts and retains quality employers in the industrial, commercial and retail fields. There is a diverse industrial base in Quinte West including food processing, automotive, plastics, packaging, transportation, medical devices, and aerospace. Canada has the second lowest manufacturing wages in the G-7 and Quinte West offers some of the most competitive wages in the country ranging from over $8.20 per hour to $14.00 per hour and upwards for skilled labour.

Labour Market Breakdown

Industry Divisions (2006)

Characteristics	Quinte West			Greater Quinte Region
	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
Total Experienced Labour Force 15 Years + Older	21,705	11,500	10,205	85,420	44,795	40,630
Agriculture & Resource-Based	560	455	110	2,940	2,195	750
Construction Industries	1,105	970	135	4,780	4,205	570
Manufacturing Industries	3,460	2,325	1,140	12,560	8,565	3,995
Wholesale & Retail Trade	3,750	1,545	2,210	14,795	6,530	8,270
Finance & Real Estate	675	245	425	3,245	1,270	1,970
Health Care & Social Services	1,785	200	1,585	8,340	1,295	7,040
Educational Services	900	225	675	4,615	1,585	3,025
Business Services	3,635	2,120	1,515	14,660	8,630	6,025
Other Services	5,835	3,415	2,420	19,475	10,490	8,980

Click here to view Wage Profile