Even with a substantial rise in residents, the
number of workers will increase by only 0.9% in
2026, 1.3% in 2027 and 1.5% every year from 2028
to 2031. Meanwhile, 12.7% of our region's
workforce is expected to retire by 2031.
5
This translates to a workforce increase of roughly
47,000 people and a rise in retired-aged residents
of 60,000+ people. Beyond strains on social and
health services and a weakening of the tax base,
our region's disproportionate growth means fewer
working age people supporting – or unable to
support – more non-working age people.
This trend isn't unique to our region. Immigration
has helped support workforce growth across
Canada; however, recent policy changes mean our
region is expected to welcome fewer newcomers,
declining from approximately 3,000 in 2024 to
1,800 annually between 2025 to 2031.
6
This makes
other workforce development strategies
increasingly important.
Population expansion has drastically increased demands for housing, energy infrastructure, health care and
skilled workers. If this growth was equal across all age groups, finding people to meet these needs wouldn't
be an issue. But this isn't the case.
Population growth over each decade
Growing challenge
2015-25
3
2025-35
4
GROWTH (%)
GROWTH (%)
0 1
0 20 30 40 50%
65 and over
+48.9%
Ages 25-64
+19.9%
Ages 15-24
+10.9%
Ages 0-14
+19.0%
0 10 20 30 40 50%
65 and over
+31.1%
64 and younger
+8.7%
WITHIN THE YOUNGER POPULATION
Core working age
15.9%
Population growth over 10 years Projected growth over 10 years
7 Insights Report | Fall 2026
