📊 NEW REPORT | Halfway Through 2026

Our latest Halfway Through 2026 Report explores employment trends, unemployment, population growth, job demand, wages, and the changing youth and immigrant labour force.

📈 Highlights include:
✅ 11,100 more people employed
✅ 24,887 job postings
✅ 6.9% unemployment rate
✅ Hamilton's fastest-growing industries and in-demand occupations

Read the full report to discover what these trends mean for Hamilton's workforce.

Hamilton Youth Workforce

Youth play an important role in Hamilton’s workforce and future. In July 2026, 98,900 youth aged 15–24 lived in Hamilton, representing 13.5% of the city’s population. Of these youth, 60.8% were employed, while the youth unemployment rate stood at 17.2%—more than double Hamilton’s overall unemployment rate of 6.4%.

There is also encouraging news for returning students aged 20–24, who saw an unemployment rate of 6.3% in July. This was the lowest unemployment rate for this group since July 2018, highlighting improving employment opportunities for young people continuing their education.

🌟 Hamilton Connector Program Has Arrived!

The National Connector Program has officially launched in Hamilton, led by the Immigrants Working Centre (IWC) — the first organization in Hamilton to bring this national initiative to the community.

The program helps newcomers build meaningful professional networks by connecting them with established professionals, employers, business leaders and community leaders.

These connections can help newcomers gain industry insights, better understand Hamilton’s labour market and discover employment opportunities.

📣 Hamilton professionals are invited to become Connectors and use their experience and networks to help open doors for talented newcomers.

📩 Interested in becoming a Connector or learning more? Contact the Immigrants Working Centre to get involved.

YWCA Hamilton Employment Office Grand Opening

YWCA Hamilton is celebrating the opening of its new Employment Ontario office on Tuesday, September 22, from 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Community members, job seekers, employers and community partners are invited to tour the new space, enjoy light refreshments and learn more about YWCA Hamilton’s employment and economic development services.

📍 101-163 Centennial Parkway N, Hamilton, ON
📞 905-662-3709

✉️ employmentatywca@ywcahamilton.org

Stop by, meet the team and discover the employment supports available in the Hamilton community!

Volunteer Families Needed: Become a “Tiny Teacher”

Have a baby who will be 2–4 months old by October? Roots of Empathy is looking for volunteer families to help children develop empathy and learn about themselves and each other.

Your baby will become a “Tiny Teacher” for a local classroom, with nine classroom visits throughout the school year. Students will learn through observing and interacting with your baby, while building important social and emotional skills.

💚 Make a big difference in your community while helping children learn and grow.

Learn more at Roots of Empathy.