#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 Peterborough, Peterborough and District Labour Council, Literacy Ontario Central South, Peterborough Workers’ Action Centre, Trent Community Research Centre, United Way of Peterborough, Workforce 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

✨ We’re back in the office and kicking off our first work day of 2026 with the best kind of news! Celebrating our December 50/50 winner and the incredible community that makes moments like this possible.

❤️ Our monthly 50/50 draws are a growing way to support our 20 local partner agencies while giving Ontario residents the opportunity to win big.

🎟️ The January draw is live now - tickets are on sale through the link in our bio, and our next draw takes place on January 30 at 1:00 PM.

*Must be 18+ to purchase tickets. Ontario residents only.

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✨ We’re back in the office and kicking off our first work day of 2026 with the best kind of news! Celebrating our December 50/50 winner and the incredible community that makes moments like this possible. ❤️ Our monthly 50/50 draws are a growing way to support our 20 local partner agencies while giving Ontario residents the opportunity to win big. 🎟️ The January draw is live now - tickets are on sale through the link in our bio, and our next draw takes place on January 30 at 1:00 PM. *Must be 18+ to purchase tickets. Ontario residents only.

From all of us at the Peterborough & District United Way, we are wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! We`re excited to continue our work with our amazing donors, partners, and volunteers in the years to come.

📅 Reminder: The tax deadline for charitable contributions is December 31.

Show your #LocalLove and donate to United Way Peterborough & District to help build community & change lives.

Consider donating today, visit the link in our bio to learn more about our work and ways to give.

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From all of us at the Peterborough & District United Way, we are wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! We're excited to continue our work with our amazing donors, partners, and volunteers in the years to come. 📅 Reminder: The tax deadline for charitable contributions is December 31. Show your #LocalLove and donate to United Way Peterborough & District to help build community & change lives. Consider donating today, visit the link in our bio to learn more about our work and ways to give.

2025, what a year!

We’re so grateful for the generosity, care, and community spirit that made these moments possible.

As the year comes to a close, this is also a friendly reminder that gifts made by December 31 are eligible for 2025 charitable tax receipting. Thank you for supporting your neighbours, today and all year long.

Learn more about the ways to give at the link in our bio.

Reminder: there is a secure mailbox located at the front of our office (277 Stewart St.) checked daily.

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2025, what a year! We’re so grateful for the generosity, care, and community spirit that made these moments possible. As the year comes to a close, this is also a friendly reminder that gifts made by December 31 are eligible for 2025 charitable tax receipting. Thank you for supporting your neighbours, today and all year long. Learn more about the ways to give at the link in our bio. Reminder: there is a secure mailbox located at the front of our office (277 Stewart St.) checked daily.

🚨Reaching Home Funding Applications Are Now Open!🚨

United Way Peterborough & District is happy to share that we are accepting applications from agencies for the Reaching Home program, on behalf of the Government of Canada.

👉 What is Reaching Home? It is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Applications close January 22nd, 2026. Find eligibility requirements and full application details on our website:
🔗 uwpeterborough.ca/reaching-home/ or follow the link in our bio

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🚨Reaching Home Funding Applications Are Now Open!🚨 United Way Peterborough & District is happy to share that we are accepting applications from agencies for the Reaching Home program, on behalf of the Government of Canada. 👉 What is Reaching Home? It is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to communities to help them address their local homelessness needs. Applications close January 22nd, 2026. Find eligibility requirements and full application details on our website: 🔗 uwpeterborough.ca/reaching-home/ or follow the link in our bio

To our neighbours,

As we head into the holiday season, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Your generosity, kindness, and commitment to community have meant so much to us throughout the year.

Whether you gave your time, made a donation, attended an event, or simply showed up for local causes, you helped make Peterborough & District a stronger, more caring place.

As of 12:00 pm today (Dec. 24), our office will be closed for the holidays and will reopen on January 5. During this time, we hope you’re able to slow down, rest, and enjoy meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

From all of us at United Way Peterborough & District, we wish you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful holiday season and a new year filled with hope, connection, and possibility.

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To our neighbours, As we head into the holiday season, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Your generosity, kindness, and commitment to community have meant so much to us throughout the year. Whether you gave your time, made a donation, attended an event, or simply showed up for local causes, you helped make Peterborough & District a stronger, more caring place. As of 12:00 pm today (Dec. 24), our office will be closed for the holidays and will reopen on January 5. During this time, we hope you’re able to slow down, rest, and enjoy meaningful moments with the people who matter most. From all of us at United Way Peterborough & District, we wish you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful holiday season and a new year filled with hope, connection, and possibility.

After more than a decade of dedicated leadership, we are sharing the news that our CEO, Jim Russell, will retire in July 2026.

Since joining United Way Peterborough & District in 2011, Jim has been a steady and passionate force for community change, leading more than $36 million in revenue generation and championing critical work to address poverty, homelessness, and income inequality across our region.

Under Jim’s leadership, United Way Peterborough and District has strengthened its role as a trusted community partner through impactful research, including Housing is Fundamental, multiple Point-in-Time Counts, and The Gap reports on income adequacy and living wages.

Jim’s commitment to Peterborough & District, and to building a more equitable, resilient community, has left a lasting mark. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to celebrating his legacy over the coming months.

Please join us in congratulating Jim on his incredible contributions to our community!

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After more than a decade of dedicated leadership, we are sharing the news that our CEO, Jim Russell, will retire in July 2026. Since joining United Way Peterborough & District in 2011, Jim has been a steady and passionate force for community change, leading more than $36 million in revenue generation and championing critical work to address poverty, homelessness, and income inequality across our region. Under Jim’s leadership, United Way Peterborough and District has strengthened its role as a trusted community partner through impactful research, including Housing is Fundamental, multiple Point-in-Time Counts, and The Gap reports on income adequacy and living wages. Jim’s commitment to Peterborough & District, and to building a more equitable, resilient community, has left a lasting mark. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to celebrating his legacy over the coming months. Please join us in congratulating Jim on his incredible contributions to our community!

🎄✨Festive sweaters described in one word only!

We brought the holiday spirit in support of our @unitedwayptbo workplace campaign!

Which one’s your favourite? 🤨

#UnitedWayPTBO #BuildingCommunity

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🎄✨Festive sweaters described in one word only! We brought the holiday spirit in support of our @unitedwayptbo workplace campaign! Which one’s your favourite? 🤨 #UnitedWayPTBO #BuildingCommunity

As the holidays approach, we wanted to share a quick update on our office hours.

Our office will be closing early on Wednesday and Thursday of this week as we celebrate the season with our staff, board and committees. We will then be closed beginning at noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through January 5, returning to regular office hours in the new year.

If you or someone you know needs support during this time, please remember that help is available by calling 211, 24/7.

Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. 🎄✨

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As the holidays approach, we wanted to share a quick update on our office hours. Our office will be closing early on Wednesday and Thursday of this week as we celebrate the season with our staff, board and committees. We will then be closed beginning at noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through January 5, returning to regular office hours in the new year. If you or someone you know needs support during this time, please remember that help is available by calling 211, 24/7. Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. 🎄✨

Looking for food support this holiday season?

Please visit the City of Peterborough website for information on food banks and free meals.

peterborough.ca/foodcalendar

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Looking for food support this holiday season? Please visit the City of Peterborough website for information on food banks and free meals. peterborough.ca/foodcalendar
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