Agriculture (NAICS 11): Ontario, 2025
Highlights
- There were 71,700 people employed in Ontario’s agriculture industry, comprising 0.9% of Ontario’s total workforce in 2024.
- Employment in the agriculture industry fell by 7.2% in 2024, after increasing by 6.9% in 2023.
- Over the 2025 to 2027 period, employment in the agriculture industry is expected to remain stable, as automation, ongoing trade uncertainty, and climate variability continue to limit growth.
- The sector faces persistent labour shortages as the domestic workforce ages and has increasingly become more reliant on temporary foreign workers to operate farms.
About the Sector
Composition and importance of the sector
The agriculture sector is comprised of establishments that are engaged in growing crops and raising animals.
In 2024, the sector employed 71,700 people, comprising 0.9% of Ontario’s total employment. The sector contributed $8.8 billion to the provincial economy in 2024, accounting for 1.0% of Ontario’s total GDP. Sectoral GDP increased by 1.5% in 2024, following an increase of 3.8% in 2023.
The Ontario agriculture sector is a significant contributor to Canadian agriculture as a whole. According to Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Agriculture, the province had the largest share of farms and farm operators nationwide, ranked second in farm operating revenues, and led in soybean, corn, and greenhouse production. There were 48,346 farms in Ontario, primarily in oilseed and grain farming, followed by cattle ranching, other crops, other animal production, and poultry and egg production.
| Crop Production | Animal Production | Mix Farming | Support Activities for Agriculture | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42% | 43% | 11% | 4% |
Description of graphic in accessible text
A pie graph that shows the breakdown of agriculture employment by subsector in 2024. Animal production accounts for the largest share of employment at 43%, followed closely by crop production (42%). Mixed farming made up 11% of employment, while support activities for agriculture made up the remaining 4%.
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Custom Table
Geographical distribution of employment
In 2024, employment in Ontario was most concentrated in the London economic region (ER), which accounted for 19.4% of the province’s agriculture workforce (13,900 workers). Agriculture also represented about 3.5% of total employment in the London ER—by far the highest share among Ontario’s economic regions.
The second largest concentration of agricultural employment was in the Stratford–Bruce Peninsula ER, which accounted for 16.3% of Ontario’s agriculture workers.
| Ottawa | 6,100 | 8.5% |
| Kingston-Pembroke | 2,800 | 3.9% |
| Muskoka-Kawarthas | 1,500 | 2.1% |
| Toronto | 4,400 | 6.1% |
| Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie | 10,400 | 14.5% |
| Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula | 10,100 | 14.1% |
| London | 13,900 | 19.4% |
| Windsor-Sarnia | 7,900 | 11.0% |
| Stratford-Bruce Peninsula | 11,700 | 16.3% |
| Northeast | 2,500 | 3.5% |
| Northwest | n/a | n/a |
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Custom Table
*Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Workforce
Workforce characteristics
- Employment in this sector skews disproportionately towards men, with women making up only 33.5% of the workforce. In comparison, women make up 47.2% of the total provincial workforce.
- The agriculture industry in Ontario has an ageing workforce, with 38.1% of workers being over the age of 55. In comparison, only 21.2% of workers employed across all industries are over the age of 55.
- About 48.0% of workers in the Ontario agriculture sector are self-employed, compared to 13.5% in the provincial labour market as a whole.
- In 2024, 41.7% (32,585) of Canada’s agricultural Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) were employed in Ontario.
| 80020 Managers in agriculture | 32,800 | 45.7% |
|---|---|---|
| 85100 Livestock labourers | 9,800 | 13.7% |
| 84120 Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators | 7,200 | 10.0% |
| 85103 Nursery and greenhouse labourers | 6,800 | 9.5% |
| 85101 Harvesting labourers | 4,600 | 6.4% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Custom Table
Note: The NOCs listed make up approximately half of those employed in the sector.
Recent History
The Ontario agricultural sector is a significant contributor to Canada’s agri-food industry, which includes the full system of producing, processing, and distributing food and agricultural products. According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, Ontario accounted for the largest share of farms and farm operators nationally and ranked second in farm revenues. However, the total number of farms in the province fell by 2.5%, decreasing from 49,600 in 2016 to 48,346 in 2021, likely due to industry consolidation and the retirement of aging farm operators without successors. The Census of Agriculture found that while the number of farms operating as sole proprietorships and family corporations declined, partnerships grew and non-family corporations remained steady, signaling fewer but larger farms. Sheep and goat farming, poultry and egg production, and cattle ranching and farming had the sharpest growth in farm numbers from 2016 to 2021, while other crop farming, which includes crops such as hay, tobacco, herbs and spices, hops and mixed crops, experienced the sharpest decline.
After a steady decade-long decline, employment in the agricultural sector experienced a rebound in 2022-2023. However, in 2024, employment eased, falling by 5,600 (-7.2%). Historically, the sector has faced persistent labour shortages due to an ageing workforce and a heavy reliance on TFWs. Both domestic and foreign workers are difficult to retain over the long term, contributing to ongoing workforce turnover in agriculture due to the sector’s physically demanding work, seasonal employment patterns, rural locations, and limited long-term pathways for TFWs. The average operator age rose from 55 years old in 2016 to 57 in 2021. A large share of the workforce is nearing retirement, and succession planning remains a significant challenge.
| Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 100.0 | 95.1 | 97.6 | 87.8 | 92.4 | 95.8 | 87.7 | 85.7 | 92.9 | 99.4 | 92.2 |
| GDP | 100.0 | 96.5 | 94.6 | 99.4 | 102.9 | 106.7 | 112.6 | 122.4 | 122.9 | 127.6 | 129.9 |
| Cash Receipts | 100.0 | 100.0 | 103.0 | 103.8 | 110.2 | 116.6 | 129.9 | 146.3 | 168.9 | 173.7 | 175.3 |
| Operating Expenses | 100.0 | 102.7 | 103.7 | 108.8 | 116.6 | 125.9 | 131.7 | 140.8 | 166.6 | 173.8 | 180.1 |
Description of graphic in accessible text
This line graph shows changes in four indicators related to Ontario’s agriculture sector over a 10-year period. Employment has fluctuated year-over-year but has been an overall decline between 2014 and 2024. In contrast, sector GDP has increased gradually. Meanwhile, both farm cash receipts and farm operating expenses have increased steadily, at quicker rates compared to GDP growth.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0023-01, Gross Domestic Product by Industry, Table 36-10-0711-01, and Net Farm Income, Table 32-10-0052-01
*Data are expressed as an index, where year 2014 = 100%
Employment Outlooks
Between 2025 and 2027, employment in Ontario’s agricultural sector is expected to remain stable.
Productivity gains from technological advancements, combined with cost pressures and trade uncertainty will temper hiring growth. While government initiatives aim to support innovation and economic resilience, external factors, such as international tariffs, input costs (including fuel, fertilizer, feed, and other essential production materials), and climate variability, continue to challenge sectoral growth and workforce stability.
Ontario’s agri-food industry remains highly export-oriented, with the United States as its primary trading partner. In 2023, Ontario accounted for 36.2% of Canada’s agri-food exports to the U.S. However, recent trade developments have added uncertainty in the sector. In 2025, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on most Canadian agricultural products (particularly wheat, canola, and beef) raising costs for exporters and contributing to increased instability. Meanwhile, Canada’s 35% tariff on Russian fertilizer, in place since 2022, has had impacts on grain farmers through higher costs and reduced availability. These trade-related pressures have placed additional strain on the sector.
Labour availability will likely remain a persistent challenge for the agriculture sector. The sector faces difficulty attracting and retaining workers due to employment seasonality, rural work locations, and competition from other industries. Immigration and TFWs have played a critical role in filling workforce gaps to date. However, recent federal immigration policy changes, including reduced reliance on the TFW Program, stricter compliance measures, and lower temporary resident admissions, may introduce added uncertainty for employers, even though the agriculture stream remains largely exempt from these measures. According to the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), the domestic labour gap in Canada’s agricultural sector is projected to increase by 15% (from 87,700 in 2023 to 101,100 by 2030), while approximately 30% of the sector’s workforce is expected to retire over the same period.
Automation may partially offset shortages, as Signal49 Research (formerly the Conference Board of Canada) estimates that up to one-third of agriculture jobs in Canada could be automated over the next decade. As a result, the sector may experience a reduced reliance on manual labour and an increasing demand for digital and technical skills. Likewise, advances in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) supported by programs like Ontario’s Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative are reshaping skill requirements and improving efficiency in farming and food processing. It is likely employers will increasingly seek workers with digital literacy, data analysis and problem-solving capabilities, including for traditionally manual roles.
Climate change will continue to influence employment stability. Agricultural production is highly dependent on weather conditions, and climate variability will likely bring both challenges and opportunities. In Ontario, warmer weather could extend the growing season and boost product output, but extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves, heavy rainfall) could disrupt labour productivity and increase downtime and as such, increase unemployment. Crop stress and livestock illness may also lead to variable production cycles, ultimately affecting seasonal hiring patterns.
Both the provincial and federal governments have implemented strategies to help address ongoing sector challenges, which may support employment in the long-run. For example, the Ontario government implemented its Grow Ontario Strategy in 2022, to strengthen the agri-food industry, increase agri-food technology and adoption, and attract talent to the sector. Meanwhile, federal programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2023-2028)—a five-year, $3.5B federal-provincial-territorial agreement, focus on strengthening food supply reliability, innovation, and competitiveness of the agri-food sector.
Key trends affecting the outlook of the agriculture sector
- Persistent labour shortages and rising retirements.
- Automation and AI adoption shifting skill requirements.
- Climate variability impacting production and seasonal work.
- Trade uncertainty influencing investment and hiring decisions.
For Further Information
Note: In preparing this document, the authors have taken care to provide clients with labour market information that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since this document was published. Users are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this document does not necessarily reflect official policies of Employment and Social Development Canada.
Portions of this sector profile were prepared with support from artificial intelligence (AI) tools, in accordance with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) guidelines. All AI-assisted content has been reviewed for accuracy and compliance with ESDC standards.
Prepared by: Labour Market and Socio-economic Information Directorate, Service Canada, Ontario Region
For further information, please contact the Labour Market Information Directorate.
Appendix
| 2022-2024 Average | 2022-2024 Average | |
| Ontario | 100.0% | 0.9% |
| Ottawa | 9.8% | 0.9% |
| Kingston-Pembroke | 3.7% | 1.1% |
| Muskoka-Kawarthas | 2.4% | 0.9% |
| Toronto | 9.7% | 0.2% |
| Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie | 13.9% | 1.2% |
| Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula | 14.1% | 1.3% |
| London | 15.4% | 2.8% |
| Windsor-Sarnia | 10.0% | 2.2% |
| Stratford-Bruce Peninsula | 16.4% | 7.3% |
| Northeast | 3.4% | 0.9% |
| Northwest | n/a | n/a |
Sources: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Custom Table
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment, 2024 | Share of Total (%) | AAGR (%)* | Share of Total (%) | AAGR (%)* | |
| Employment | 71,700 | 100.0% | -0.6% | 100.0% | 1.8% |
| Male | 47,700 | 66.5% | -0.7% | 52.8% | 1.9% |
| Female | 24,000 | 33.5% | 0.1% | 47.2% | 1.7% |
| 15-24 years old | 9,600 | 13.4% | -2.8% | 12.6% | 1.0% |
| 25-54 years old | 34,700 | 48.4% | -1.0% | 66.2% | 1.8% |
| 55 years and older | 27,300 | 38.1% | 3.3% | 21.2% | 2.6% |
| Worked full-time | 55,400 | 77.3% | -1.0% | 82.4% | 2.1% |
| Worked part-time | 16,300 | 22.7% | 1.3% | 17.6% | 0.8% |
| Self-employed | 34,400 | 48.0% | -1.5% | 13.5% | 0.9% |
| Employees | 37,400 | 52.2% | 1.0% | 86.5% | 2.0% |
| Permanent job | 28,600 | 39.9% | 1.3% | 77.0% | 2.2% |
| Temporary job | 8,700 | 12.1% | 0.7% | 9.5% | 0.8% |
| Less than high school | 13,400 | 17.4% | -5.8% | 5.8% | -2.0% |
| High school graduate | 27,500 | 35.8% | 0.4% | 21.2% | -0.9% |
| Postsecondary cert. or diploma | 25,200 | 32.8% | 1.9% | 31.3% | 1.3% |
| University degree | 10,800 | 14.0% | 4.6% | 41.7% | 5.1% |
Sources: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Custom Table
*Average annual growth rate for last ten years available data