Resources, Reports and Census Bulletins

Waterloo Region's community profile describes our economy, key sectors, workforce, lifestyle, education, talent, demographics, transportation, cost of living/doing business and our innovation culture.

Census Bulletins
 
Building Activity Reports
Business and Labour

2020 was a year of economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This uncertainty was reflected both locally and nationally according to annualized data gathered in the 2020 Labour Force Survey.

The total population of those age 15 and over in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Census Metropolitan Area (KCW CMA) was 492,900, of which, 338,600 were considered to be in the labour force (employed or unemployed). This results in a participation rate of 68.7 per cent, which is higher than the provincial and national averages.

The KCW CMA had an employed labour force of 306,200 people in 2020. This is the number of employed people who live in the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the Townships of Woolwich, North Dumfries, and Wilmot. There were 16,500 fewer employed people in the CMA in 2020 than in 2019. Of the 16,500 jobs lost, 83% were part time jobs.

Business

Labour

Central Transit Corridor Monitoring Reports
Population
 

The total population of Waterloo Region is estimated at 678,170 as of year-end 2024, including university and college students who would normally be residing in the Region while they study at our local institutions. This is an increase 4,260 people, a growth rate of 0.6% from year-end 2023. Based on this estimate, over the past 15 years the region's population has grown an average of 1.5 per cent per year.

There are a few commonly reference population figures for Waterloo Region, Statistics Canada Census population, Statistics Canada annual population estimates, and population forecasts contained in various Area Municipal Official Plans.

  • The Statistics Canada’s latest Census was conducted in 2021 and counted the Regions population at 587,165 people. the Census is based on a count of people living within the Region, but does not typically include the post-secondary student population which resides in the Region While attending one of the local institutions
  • The Statistics Canada annual population estimates provide annual estimates of population using administrative datasets such as vital statistics and tax filer data. in 2021, they estimated the Region’s population to be 614,000 people. for mid-year 2024, they estimated the Regions population to be 706,000 people.
  • Official Plans provide population forecasts to 2051. The most recently published forecast is contained in the Regions Official Plan and projected the Regions population to grow to 923,000 people by 2051. Forecasts across the Regions seven Area Municipalities are currently being reviewed and updated to align with the most recent growth outlook.

 

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