#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 are so happy to be back at our Stewart St. office after a couple of weeks working remotely due to aforementioned “unforeseen circumstances”! Come by and say hello! The team has missed you.

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We are so happy to be back at our Stewart St. office after a couple of weeks working remotely due to aforementioned “unforeseen circumstances”! Come by and say hello! The team has missed you.

You’re not seeing double, your generosity can go twice as far!

For 85 years, neighbours have been coming together to build a stronger, more caring Peterborough community. This year, there’s an extra reason to celebrate: eligible donations will be matched dollar for dollar!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, new donations of $85 or more, as well as any increase to an existing gift, will be matched 100% through our 2026 Community Campaign.

This is the third and final year of this incredible matching gift, making it a special opportunity to double your impact and help support the network of 20 local agencies working to strengthen our community.

Whether you’re making your first gift or increasing your support, your generosity makes a difference.

85 years united. Double the impact. Stronger together.

Learn more at the link in our bio!

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You’re not seeing double, your generosity can go twice as far! For 85 years, neighbours have been coming together to build a stronger, more caring Peterborough community. This year, there’s an extra reason to celebrate: eligible donations will be matched dollar for dollar! Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, new donations of $85 or more, as well as any increase to an existing gift, will be matched 100% through our 2026 Community Campaign. This is the third and final year of this incredible matching gift, making it a special opportunity to double your impact and help support the network of 20 local agencies working to strengthen our community. Whether you’re making your first gift or increasing your support, your generosity makes a difference. 85 years united. Double the impact. Stronger together. Learn more at the link in our bio!

🧡 Today we wear orange. In honour of every child who was taken. Every family that was broken. Every survivor who carried the weight of what should never have happened.

Reconciliation is not a moment; it’s a responsibility we carry every day.
United Way Peterborough & District walks alongside Indigenous communities, today and always. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthandReconciliation

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🧡 Today we wear orange. In honour of every child who was taken. Every family that was broken. Every survivor who carried the weight of what should never have happened. Reconciliation is not a moment; it’s a responsibility we carry every day. United Way Peterborough & District walks alongside Indigenous communities, today and always. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthandReconciliation

Shop the Certified Neighbour Collection online now at the link in our bio.

A portion of the proceeds directly support your United Way Community Campaign.

Local pickup in Peterborough available @ricartpromo or shipping options with Canada Post and Purolator!

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Shop the Certified Neighbour Collection online now at the link in our bio. A portion of the proceeds directly support your United Way Community Campaign. Local pickup in Peterborough available @ricartpromo or shipping options with Canada Post and Purolator!

One week ago, we launched our 2026 Community Campaign! 🎉

Thanks to Campaign Cabinet member, Trista Greer and @ftlom.inc we have the perfect little recap to relive it. ❤️

There are so many ways to be a Certified Neighbour.

Want to get involved? Whether you’re a business or an individual there’s a role you can play in supporting our community!

⬇️ Comment “CERTIFIED” and we’ll send you a DM and share the different ways you can support the Campaign!

#85YearsUnited and we’re just getting started.

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One week ago, we launched our 2026 Community Campaign! 🎉 Thanks to Campaign Cabinet member, Trista Greer and @ftlom.inc we have the perfect little recap to relive it. ❤️ There are so many ways to be a Certified Neighbour. Want to get involved? Whether you’re a business or an individual there’s a role you can play in supporting our community! ⬇️ Comment “CERTIFIED” and we’ll send you a DM and share the different ways you can support the Campaign! #85YearsUnited and we’re just getting started.

The Certified Neighbour Collection is officially here!

You saw it at our Campaign Launch. You asked about it. And now… you can officially get your own Certified Neighbour swag!

Our first drop is live with many ways to rep your neighbourhood, including:
❤️ the 2-Tone Hat
❤️ the Crewneck Fleece
❤️ the Tote

Check out the online store for yourself to see what else is available.

The best part? Proceeds from every purchase go directly to supporting United Way Peterborough & District’s Community Campaign. The people, programs and organizations that are working to build a stronger community, together.

🛍️ Shop the colllection through the link in our bio

📤 Local pickup at @ricartpromo or shipping options available via Canada Post & Purolator!

Tag your Certified Neighbours in the comments. Share this post. Show us how you’re sporting yours. And let’s see just how far the Certified Neighbour crew can go!

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The Certified Neighbour Collection is officially here! You saw it at our Campaign Launch. You asked about it. And now… you can officially get your own Certified Neighbour swag! Our first drop is live with many ways to rep your neighbourhood, including: ❤️ the 2-Tone Hat ❤️ the Crewneck Fleece ❤️ the Tote Check out the online store for yourself to see what else is available. The best part? Proceeds from every purchase go directly to supporting United Way Peterborough & District’s Community Campaign. The people, programs and organizations that are working to build a stronger community, together. 🛍️ Shop the colllection through the link in our bio 📤 Local pickup at @ricartpromo or shipping options available via Canada Post & Purolator! Tag your Certified Neighbours in the comments. Share this post. Show us how you’re sporting yours. And let’s see just how far the Certified Neighbour crew can go!

85 years of caring. 85 years of community. And now, a new goal for the future.

Today, United Way Peterborough & District celebrated 85 years of bringing people together to create lasting change in our community, and launched our 2026 Community Campaign with a goal of $1,585,000!

Together, we can make sure local people have access to the support, opportunities and resources they need to thrive.

Here’s to 85 years of making a difference, and to what we can accomplish together in the years ahead.

📸 @jordanlyallphotography

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85 years of caring. 85 years of community. And now, a new goal for the future. Today, United Way Peterborough & District celebrated 85 years of bringing people together to create lasting change in our community, and launched our 2026 Community Campaign with a goal of $1,585,000! Together, we can make sure local people have access to the support, opportunities and resources they need to thrive. Here’s to 85 years of making a difference, and to what we can accomplish together in the years ahead. 📸 @jordanlyallphotography
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