Housing our Workforce

Housing Our Workforce

Waterloo Region, Guelph-Wellington County, and Dufferin County estimate high population growth between now and 2051. In particular, Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, and Waterloo are among 29 municipalities identified by the Province as “large and fast-growing”. (Ontario Provincial Planning Statement, 2024).

Housing is already a major challenge for our workforce:

• Dufferin County Economic Development’s 2025-2030 Strategy and Action Plan:
  • 51.4% of Dufferin’s labour force with a regular place of work commutes out of the County for work
  • “With current mortgage rates, only 14% of Dufferin households would be able to afford homes”
  • “Dufferin’s housing challenge presents an inescapable barrier to the long-term growth and vitality of local businesses.”
• Waterloo Region Community Foundation’s 2023 Vital Signs Report:
  • “From affordable to dire: Prices are now 8x higher than income [in 2023], up from 3.3x higher in 2005.”
  • “Home prices in Waterloo Region are now some of the least affordable in the world.”
• Wellington County Housing Taskforce:
  • “Recent discussions with local employers showed that approximately 80% of workers were previously recruited from the nearby community, and that this trend has almost reversed.”

As we build the housing and infrastructure to accommodate further population growth, how can we ensure that the people working here can afford to live here? We need to start with who is here, who is needed, and what they can afford.

Local Research

Our 2025-2026 Housing Our Workforce report provides context on the housing needs of our future workforce.

To connect about this report, please contact Sonya at 519-622-7122 Ext- 102

This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.