Economic profile: Labrador City-Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador

Overview

Labrador City-Wabush^{Footnote 1} has a population of 9,376, consisting of 11% seniors (65 and older), 70% working‑age adults (15 to 64) and 19% children (under 15).

The key sectors of the economy in Labrador City-Wabush, which account for 61% of the jobs in the region, are

• mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
• retail trade
• health care and social assistance

There are 5,280 employed residents, of which 6.7% are immigrants.^{Footnote 2}

The economy generates a total of $4.1 billion in household and business incomes, which amounts to $436,747 per resident. It is important to note that, based on the 2021 census data, employment in the mining, oil and gas sector is significantly higher than employment in any other sector in the region (and more than 4 times higher than employment in the second biggest sector). This suggests that mining, oil and gas have an exceptionally strong presence in the region, which contributes to the size of attributed business incomes.

General age structure – 2021

Sustainability

In order to support local services such as health care and social programs and maintain a good standard of living for everyone in the region, it is essential to have more working-age adults than seniors. Labrador City-Wabush has more working-age adults than seniors compared to the average in Newfoundland and Labrador.

From 2011 to 2021, Labrador City-Wabush experienced

• a 1.6% increase in population, compared to a 0.8% decrease in the province
• a 92% increase in the population’s proportion of seniors, compared to a 48% increase in the province
• a 7.0% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, compared to an 8.9% decrease in the province

Population structure – Changes from 2011 to 2021

By 2031, without immigration,^{Footnote 3} the region could experience^{Footnote 4}

• a 2.0% increase in population
• a 0.9% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, which could limit the availability and quality of local services
• a further increase in the population’s proportion of seniors by 47%, potentially changing the demand for local services, including health care and long-term care

No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031

Prosperity

The region relies heavily on working-age adults to keep local services running smoothly and to maintain a good standard of living and economic growth. Immigrants can help by filling job gaps and bringing new skills and ideas, which keeps the local economy strong.

From 2011 to 2021, Labrador City-Wabush experienced

• a 2.3% decrease in workforce^{Footnote 5} size, compared to a 4.9% decrease in the province
• a 312% increase in the number of immigrant workers, compared to a 59% increase in the province
• a total of 768 retirements,^{Footnote 6} which amounts to 14% of the 2021 workforce, compared to 22% in the province
• a change in the average income per resident from local jobs relative to the province, which is 54% higher than the average in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2021

Economic changes from 2011 to 2021

By 2031, without immigration,^{Footnote 8} the region could experience^{Footnote 9}

• a further decrease in workforce size by 34%
• a 34% decrease in the number of jobs
• an increase in the proportion of seniors in the population from 11% to 16%

No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031

Supporting the community’s French-speaking population

Francophone immigration outside Quebec plays an important role in enhancing the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities across the country.

Labrador City-Wabush is part of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This initiative supports the economic and socio-cultural integration of French-speaking newcomers.

In total, 12% of Labrador City-Wabush’s population speaks French, with 2.5% speaking French as a first language and 9.9% as a second language.

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