In the COVID-19 era, job availability is a vital component to decide your future. Start your search for job opportunities by understanding some of the differences between rural vs city living and quality of life.
Business closures amidst the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected employment provincewide. Good news is that there are industries that are thriving and hiring now and will continue to be stable employers after the pandemic.
In November 2020, the job gap in rural and urban areas was the same (-3.5%). Though the impact from February to October 2020 was less in rural areas, in urban areas sectors such as the arts, recreation and hospitality were hard hit.
With the hardest hit sectors in rural areas being:
Right now, there's jobs in agriculture and food sectors so grocery shelves are stocked and people have enough food. If you’re not in a food sector job, there’s lots of opportunity to get trained and find work in the agrifood and food processing industries. Even better, these jobs can be found in both rural and urban centres in eastern Ontario, so you can get a job and live where you want.
In rural eastern Ontario, you’ll make between $17 and $18/hour. This gives you a choice to live in a small town like Smiths Falls or Prescott and make a good wage outside the city.
Bottom line is, whether you want to live in a rural area or an urban one you can find your ideal location in and around the eastern Ontario region. Choose from communities like Kingston, Belleville, Quinte West, and Brockville (or even Ottawa, adjacent to eastern Ontario), or Perth, Bancroft, or Carleton Place. And you’ll still have access to services like reliable wi-fi, so you can work from home, learn and upskill remotely, and order what you need. Plus, trips to the towns and cities near you are within an hour’s drive.
Finding a good home you can afford in a rural community or city in eastern Ontario is important to your work/life balance. There’s lots of housing options in eastern Ontario where you can choose what amenities and services are important for your life.
In 2021, it’s 32% more expensive to live in Toronto than Kingston.
While housing costs have increased in many areas during the pandemic, eastern Ontario remains a mid-range area compared to southern and northern Ontario markets, and even right next door in Ottawa. That means you get more house for your money and you’re still within a good roads system (Hwy 401) with multiple transportation options such as trains, buses and regular flights close by.
In Brockville, a single-family home can cost you up to ~$425,000. However many homes are less expensive than that. Plus, Brockville is a smaller city on the St. Lawrence River within an hour’s drive of Ottawa. And it’s on the 401 Hwy route so heading to larger centres for entertainment, like to Toronto, is convenient. Even better, there’s jobs and training opportunities in the region.
Quinte West is home to 8 Wing CFB Trenton. Known as the gateway to Trent-Severn Waterway, Quinte West is close to diverse employment and training opportunities and outdoor recreation. Plus, it’s within reasonable driving distances to larger urban centres.
Rural properties vary across the region. However, you’ll find acreage, hobby farms, treed lots and waterfront properties throughout the area, so you can find a location and price that suits your plans.
Ultimately, eastern Ontario rural and city communities offer lower-cost services and housing that's twice as affordable as southern Ontario locations. Plus it offers a plentiful job market.
Want to know more about the quality of life in eastern Ontario and how it compares to other regions? Download this infographic.
External links are provided as informational resources only and are not necessarily endorsed by Ontario East.
References:
https://bit.ly/ONFocusFactSheetNov-20
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/kingston-canada