#UNIGNORABLE Issue: Unemployment

Unemployment is an #UNIGNORABLE issue in your community, and COVID-19 is making it is even harder for local businesses stay open, let alone hire.

The City of Peterborough’s unemployment numbers increased in October 2020, maintaining one of the highest rates among Canadian cities.

According to Statistics Canada data released on Friday, Peterborough’s unemployment rate for October was 11.7 per cent — up from 11.2 per cent reported in September. That places the city second behind Edmonton at 12.0 per cent.

Statistics show the top three growing occupations in Peterborough, 2016 – 2021
1. Customer and information services representatives
2. Food counter attendants and kitchen helpers
3. Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

Through our extensive research, a living wage in Peterborough is $17.63. That’s based on a family of 2 parents & 2 children with both parents working full time.

Please click to the photo to your right to read more from the Living Wage Report and please be an advocate for employment opportunities in your community to help make this #UNIGNORABLE. This report has details on how you can become a Living Wage Employer.

We fund a number of agencies that help with unemployment in Peterborough. Click here to see the full list of partner agencies we fund. We work hard to raise funds for these agencies, so they can focus on closing the gap on the unemployment rates here in Peterborough.

Below is a powerful video that shines a light on unemployment.

Thank you to Chex News on Global Peterborough for their generous in-kind partnership with this video.


About the PERI Group

The Precarious Employment Research Initiative (PERI) is a collaborative project among many community partners interested in better understanding the employment and working conditions of workers in our community.

This project was initiated by Peterborough Public Health and expanded to include City of PeterboroughPeterborough and District Labour CouncilLiteracy Ontario Central SouthPeterborough Workers’ Action CentreTrent Community Research CentreUnited Way of PeterboroughWorkforce Development Board and Trent University psychology professor and researcher, Dr. Fergal O’Hagan with support from the Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario(PEPSO) research project. To learn more about Decent Work Peterborough, click here.

The PERI Reports

Social Posts

🌈 Pride Season begins!
 
 We celebrate diverse expressions of love, queer joy and chosen familiesm,  while continuing the work toward equity and safety for all.
 
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ #PrideMonth
From the Campaign trail to the quiet in-between moments. A look back at a year that’s shaped us. As we step into our 85th year, we’re carrying it all forward ❤️.
🌸 It’s time to break the stigma.
 
Menstrual health matters and access to products and education should never be a barrier.

Through the Period Promise campaign, United Way Peterborough & District is working to address period poverty in our communities. 

On Menstrual Hygiene Day, we call for dignity, access, and inclusion for all.

#MenstrualHygieneDay
📬 It’s that time of year again!
We were thrilled to visit @miskinlaw this morning and are proud to announce Miskin Law as the Presenting Sponsor of Day of Caring 2026 with a generous $5,000 contribution. 

Day of Caring brings volunteers and workplaces together to support local agencies and strengthen our community through hands-on impact. Partnerships like this one make it all possible!

Thank you to the whole team at Miskin Law (including Leo🐶) for your leadership, generosity, and commitment to building a stronger Peterborough. We can’t wait to work together for an incredible Day of Caring 2026!
Our office will be closed today, Monday, may 18th and will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19th! Have a safe and restful  long weekend. 

Need support? Dial 211 to connect with a live agent and find assistance with food, housing, healthcare, employment and more.
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Today we stand for love, dignity, and inclusion.
 
Everyone deserves to live authentically and without fear.

United Way Peterborough & District remains committed to fostering inclusion, advancing equity, and supporting initiatives that uplift 2SLGBTQI+ communities across our region.
 
#IDAHOBIT
Last week, nearly 60 community members came together at our Solutions Summit to share ideas, build connections, and help shape the future of Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) work across Peterborough City & County. 

The conversations were thoughtful, honest, and inspiring, and we know there are still more voices to hear.

We’re now inviting the broader community to help inform how up to $300,000 through our new Priority Issues Fund will be invested over the next 18 months.
Whether you attended the Summit or not, we want your insight.

📝 Complete the Priority Issues Fund Survey before Tuesday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. and help shape this work moving forward.

🔗 Link in bio

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed their time, perspectives, and lived experience to this process. We’re excited to continue learning, evolving, and building this work, together!
Happy Mother’s Day 💖
 
To every mom and mother figure — your love and care make our communities brighter.
Do you have an idea to make your community better? 

This is your chance to bring it to life.💥 Apply to the Neighbourhood Fund for the chance to receive a small grant and turn your project into something real.

Every big change starts small and it could all start with you!

🔗 Apply today at uwpeterborough.ca 
🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, May 27 at noon
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