The automotive industry in Canada is evolving to include new roles across the supply chain.

This shift has the potential to contribute significantly to national and provincial economic prosperity as the sector looks to fill many different positions in several auto producing regions across the country.

As part of our commitment to highlighting this development and helping you identify where emerging jobs are to be found, FOCAL has produced baseline forecasts that can help to identify where opportunities are expected to exist in the near- and long-term.

You can find more detailed specifics, region by region, by checking out the Labour Market Forecasts section (Profile Highlights) of our website. Here are the 9 FOCAL defined regions of the auto sector where these opportunities will exist.

1. Ontario
2. Québec
3. Windsor/Sarnia
4. London/Stratford-Bruce Peninsula
5. Kitchener-Waterloo/Barrie
6. The Golden Horseshoe
7. Eastern Ontario
8. The Greater Montreal Region
9. Winnipeg

The numbers for each region are projections based on the assumption that historic trends of retirement and entry into the sector continue over the coming decade. 

Note that the numbers stated for each region are projections based on estimated trends and conservative job growth projections.

Ontario

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 39,870 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 34,900 hires to replace workers lost due primarily to retirement 
• 4,980 hires due to industry growth
• Ontario’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 30,090 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Manufacturing managers
• Construction millwrights & industrial mechanics
• Senior managers in construction, transportation, production and utilities
• Tool & die makers
• Industrial electricians

Québec

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 5,710 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 3,280 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 2,430 hires due to industry growth
• Québec’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 4,860 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Welders & related machine operators
• Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors & testers
• Electrical & electronics engineers
• Construction millwrights & industrial mechanics

Windsor-Sarnia

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 5,250 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 4,760 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 500 hires due to industry growth
• Windsor-Sarnia’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 3,640 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Motor vehicle assembling supervisors
• Industrial electricians
• Transport truck drivers
• Automotive service technicians

London/Stratford-Bruce Peninsula

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 5,930 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 5,150 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 770 hires due to industry growth
• London/Stratford-Bruce Peninsula broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 3,810 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Construction millwrights & industrial mechanics
• Manufacturing managers
• Transport truck drivers
• Engineering managers
• Computer & information systems managers

Kitchener-Waterloo/Barrie

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 7,690 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 6,930 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 770 hires due to industry growth
• Kitchener-Waterloo/Barrie’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 5,360 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Motor vehicle assembling supervisors
• Manufacturing managers
• Transport truck drivers
• Senior managers in construction, transportation, production and utilities
• Foundry workers

Golden Horseshoe

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 16,800 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 14,990 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 1,800 hires due to industry growth
• Golden Horseshoe’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 13,550 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Information systems analysts & consultants
• Manufacturing managers
• Senior managers in construction, transportation, production and utilities
• Machinists & machining & tooling inspectors

Eastern Ontario

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 1,210 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 1,020 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 190 hires due to industry growth
• Eastern Ontario’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 980 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Transport truck drivers
• Information systems analysts & consultants
• Mechanic trades contractors & supervisors
• Transport truck drivers
• Electricians

The Greater Montreal Region

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 3,350 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 2,070 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 1,270 hires due to industry growth
• The Greater Montreal Region’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 2,790 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Mechanical assemblers & inspectors
• Manufacturing managers
• Production logistics co-ordinators
• Industrial equipment technicians & mechanics
• Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors & testers

Winnipeg

Employment Projection through 2030

Hiring Requirement

• 1,750 new hires between 2021 and 2030 to meet projected labour demands
• 1,070 hires to replace workers lost due to retirement or death
• 680 hires due to industry growth
• The Winnipeg Region’s broader automotive industry is expected to face a recruitment gap of 1,510 workers between 2021 and 2030

In-Demand Occupations

• Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors & testers
• Mechanical assemblers & inspectors
• Welders, painters, coaters & metal finishing process operators
• Machinists & machinery & tooling inspectors
• Metal working & forging machine operators
• Construction millwrights & industrial mechanics

Conclusion

An aging workforce, technological advancements and several other factors may contribute to the evolution of Canada’s automotive sector in this decade. Our regional baseline forecasts show potential for job opportunities across the full range of automotive production occupations along the supply chain. FOCAL projections are based on the assumption that historic trends of retirement and entry into the sector continue through 2030. 

Find out more from FOCAL

The Future of Canadian Automotive Labourforce (FOCAL) Initiative is a collaboration of the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition (CSTEC), the Automotive Policy Research Centre and Prism Economics and Analysis. 

Funded by the Government of Canada, you can find out more about us on our website and follow us on Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and through our newsletter.