Barrie Economy: Top Industries, Biggest Employers, & Business Development Opportunities

With a motto like "The People Are the City," it's easy to see Barrie is a city that invests in its residents. Located in central Ontario, 85 kilometres north of Toronto, the metro area population is around 212,667 people. The city is located inside the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, a region of Ontario known for its dense population and thriving economies. Anyone living in Barrie will be pleased to know that the city's major industries and top employers provide thousands of great jobs and business opportunities.

Understanding the economic layout of a city can help you know you're making the right choice for your new home. Read on to learn about Barrie's economy to decide whether the city is right for you.

Barrie Industries

Simcoe County has a reputation for primarily serving as a bedroom community for the greater Toronto area, but almost two-thirds of Barrie's residents work in Barrie. Barrie's proximity to Kempenfelt Bay also provides the area ample tourism. Legacy industries like agriculture and natural resources also provide important economic benefits for the county.

However, in the modern era, significant contributions are also made by manufacturing and retail companies. In fact, manufacturing provides more than 17% of county employment, while retail offers 12%, and tourism accounts for 6%. With Barrie's waterfront and many things to do, this isn't surprising.

Workers in the Barrie metro area labour force held a variety of positions as of the 2016 Census. The largest segment of employees was those working in sales and service-related occupations at 22.3%. Another 15.6% held jobs in trades, transport, and equipment operator fields. Business, finance, and administration positions filled around 13.8% of career paths. With 11.2% of all occupations, education, law, social, community, and government service positions were the fourth most populated.

Considering the labour force by industry paints a slightly different picture. In the metro community, 14.2% of all jobs were in manufacturing, making it the largest single segment of the Barrie area. Retail trade is the next largest portion with 11.2%. From there, percentages drop into single digits, with healthcare and social assistance positions garnering 9.9% of employment. Construction and education positions were nearly tied at 7.9% and 7.8%, respectively.

Top Employers in Barrie

One key to understanding the economic layout of a community is considering the largest employers in the region. Despite the reputation as a bedroom community, a 2001 survey indicated that only about 20% of Barrie residents drive to far-off destinations for income. Most residents find positions much closer to home. Simcoe County, in particular, has several major contributors to jobs.

With headquarters in Midhurst, Simcoe County District School Board has about 6,600 employees. As the organization responsible for the education of school-aged children throughout the county, the organization has positions available across the region. Found in the centre of the county, Canadian Forces Base Borden trains around 20,000 soldiers each year. Accomplishing this task requires the employment of about 5,000 military staff and civilians. The facility has been part of the local community since the first World War.

Honda of Canada Manufacturing employs about 4,200 people building vehicles for sale in North America. The headquarters is located in Alliston, Ontario, but workers perform various jobs in the region. The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board is an alternative school system, employing around 3,000 people who provide instruction to school-aged children.

Part of the tourism environment, the Casino Rama Resort has just over 2,700 on staff. The facility includes slot machines and table games, plus several bars and restaurants. Owned by the Rama First Nations, the hotel, spa, and some of the biggest stage acts in the world all draw visitors. Linked with the University of Toronto medical school, the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre provides 319 medical beds for the Barrie community. With more than 2,500 employees, they render acute and long-term care through more than 380 doctors.

Georgian College gets the next slot on the list, with 2,250 on staff providing higher education for students. The school has seven campuses in total, but the Barrie facilities are the largest. With 1,750 public servants, the County of Simcoe government secures the last spot on this list. The organization provides a wide range of services, including emergency paramedics, waste management, workforce development, and senior services.

Barrie Economic Development: Local Business Incentives

Nurturing small businesses is an essential component of Barrie's economic development strategy. The community offers economic incentives and business resources to ensure that the city's entrepreneurial spirit thrives for years to come.

The first program is known as Invest Barrie. This initiative consolidates efforts from Barrie's Small Business Centre and the Economic & Creative Development Department to provide a supportive network for local businesses and owners.

Thinking about moving your company to Barrie? The Economic & Creative Development Department should be your first point of contact. They'll help you with demographic research, choosing a location, and connecting with other professionals in the area.

Located at 24 Maple Avenue in Downtown Barrie, the Small Business Centre is a unique location where entrepreneurs of all ages and experience levels can go to learn, network, and grow. They provide the necessary resources for anyone who wants to start or expand a company in the surrounding Simcoe County area. The goal is to provide any and all small business needs under one roof.

Barrie Economy Facts & Figures

Much of Barrie's economic growth has been relatively recent. Between 1991 and 2001, the total number of jobs in Simcoe County doubled to 200,000, with a slight majority focused in the six southern communities, including Barrie. Today, around 63% of city residents work within the jurisdiction and another 9% work within the county. This change has been due to growth in the manufacturing sector. In fact, more than 20,700 workers commute to Barrie each day for economic opportunities.

New residents that may be considering a move to the city may be comforted by the projected population growth. Between now and 2041, the number of residents is expected to grow by around 69% to 253,000. That many new inhabitants can't all be wrong about the city. During that same period, the number of jobs is expected to grow by around 129,000.

Fortunately, while waiting on the future, Barrie residents also have some great opportunities today. The unemployment rate for the city is 8.89%, which is lower than the national number of 9.26%. Between 2014 and 2019, several sectors grew by double digits. Creative types will love the 51% growth in the industries related to arts, entertainment, and recreation. Manufacturing grew by 21%, finance and insurance by 15%, and healthcare and social services by 14%. As expected for a community experiencing rapid growth, construction increased by 10%. This has also resulted in many new construction homes in Barrie.

Move to Barrie & Enjoy a Thriving Economy!

Economic data is important, but truthfully it's just one piece of the analysis. Several factors outside of jobs and industry profiles may determine whether a community is a good fit. However, Barrie has demonstrated the natural beauty and growing opportunities to make it worth the risk.