Employment Profile

King’s employment has grown from an estimated 4,154 jobs in 2002 to 6,284 jobs in 2012 (excluding home-based and farm-based jobs), representing an average annual increase of 4.2%.

• Business services jobs have collectively posted the fastest gains over the past ten years at an average annual rate of 7.3% since 2002.
• Between 2002 and 2012, employment in the institutional industry group rose by 587 jobs (+7.1% average annually), with the education services sector driving the majority of this growth, averaging an increase of 8.4% annually over this period.
• The primary, MWCT industry group continues to comprise the largest share of employment in King, accounting for 39% of total employment in 2012. It has grown at an average annual rate of 3.8% over the past ten years. The manufacturing and construction sectors have historically comprised over half of total employment in this industry group, accounting for 61% of total employment in this group in 2012.
• The retail and personal services sector is the second largest industry group in King, with 2,080 jobs in 2012, increasing at an average annual rate of 2.7%. Accommodation and food services jobs posted the largest gains within this industry group between 2011 and 2012, increasing by 21.5% (100 jobs).

The graphs below show the 2012 employment breakdown for each industry group by sector:

Employment by Type of Worker

• Between 2002 and 2012, full-time employment increased by 1,183 jobs (+48%), part-time employment rose by 445 jobs (+55%), and seasonal employment increased by 502 jobs (56%).
• Full-time employment accounted for more than half of total employment in King in 2012, seasonal employment comprised approximately 22% of total employment, followed by part-time employment at 20%.

Business Overview

• The number of surveyed businesses has grown by 13.5% or 47 businesses since 2002.
• Small firms comprise nearly 85% of total surveyed businesses in King in 2012.

Development Activity

• Total non-residential building permit values in King were over $13 million in the first ten months of 2012, an increase of approximately 8% from the same period in 2011.
• Compared to the same period in 2011, commercial building permits issued increased by approximately $4 million.
• Total non-residential building permits issued are expected to generate an estimated 340 jobs. Tables 22 and 23 provide an overview of some of the recently opened businesses and/or completed projects that were under construction in King in 2012.