Number of people employed in Municipal Government in Canada (2001-2024)

Local, Municipal, and Regional Public Administration Employment in Canada (2001-2024)

Canada’s local, municipal, and regional public administration workforce has seen steady growth from 2001 to 2024, reflecting the vital role these levels of government play in service delivery and infrastructure management.

Key Trends and Growth Patterns

• Significant Increase: Employment grew from 327,063 employees in 2001 to 499,888 in 2024, a 53% increase over 23 years.
• High Growth Years: The highest annual growth occurred in 2003 (7%), when employment rose sharply to meet local governance demands.
• Declines: Employment dropped in 2002 (-1%), 2012 (-1%), and most significantly in 2020 (-7%), largely due to the pandemic’s economic disruptions.
• Post-Pandemic Recovery: After 2020, the sector rebounded with 5% growth in 2022 and 2023, reaching an all-time high in 2024.
• Recent Performance: In 2024, the workforce stands at 499,888 employees, reflecting a 3% increase from 2023.

Number of People Employed in Municipal Government in Canada (2001-2024)

Year	Total Employees in Local, municipal and regional public administration	Growth YoY
2001	327,063
2002	322,242	-1%
2003	346,360	7%
2004	352,884	2%
2005	365,869	4%
2006	374,023	2%
2007	387,273	4%
2008	406,551	5%
2009	425,129	5%
2010	427,985	1%
2011	429,441	0%
2012	426,436	-1%
2013	428,219	0%
2014	430,790	1%
2015	430,379	0%
2016	438,423	2%
2017	449,944	3%
2018	452,666	1%
2019	459,682	2%
2020	425,969	-7%
2021	437,542	3%
2022	461,484	5%
2023	483,605	5%
2024	499,888	3%

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0202-01  Employment by industry, annual