⚙️ Ontario Manufacturing Jobs Take a Major Hit
August 26, 2025
Ontario lost about 38,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2025, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.8 percent—the highest level since 2012 outside of pandemic periods—according to a report from the province’s Financial Accountability Officer (Global News). The manufacturing sector was hit hardest, with about 29,400 positions eliminated—a 3.5 percent decline, the sharpest drop since 2009 (excluding the pandemic).
While full-time employment dropped by around 56,000 jobs, nearly 18,700 part-time positions were added, providing a partial buffer for those sectors most affected. Windsor, with its deep ties to manufacturing, felt the strain acutely: its unemployment rate climbed to roughly 11.2 percent, among the highest in the province.
Our Take: These aren’t just numbers—they’re warning signs. When major trading partners shift the rules overnight, entire communities can feel the fallout almost immediately. Ontario needs long-term economic strategies, not just stopgap relief: support value-added manufacturing, diversify beyond U.S. markets, and invest in upskilling workers. Without durable solutions, tariff shocks will keep hitting our towns and families hardest.
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