Get to know Niagara
Looking for at-a-glance information to get to know Niagara? This collection of Regional Quick Facts is a perfect place to start. Begin with a quick scroll through key data highlights and then link through to more detailed reports for additional background.
Location
Location and Distance to Markets
| Metropolitan Area | Distance | Population |
| Toronto | 100 km | 5.9 million |
| Detroit | 350 km | 4.3 million |
| Columbus | 565 km | 2.1 million |
| New York | 650 km | 20 million |
| Philadelphia | 650 km | 6.1 million |
| Boston | 775 km | 4.6 million |
| Chicago | 830 km | 9.5 million |
Transportation Infrastructure
4 major highways
5 international border crossings into US
2 commercial vehicle border crossings
1 million truck crossings each year
3 international airports within 100km
Welland Canal and nearby access to Ontario's largest port
Business
Niagara Business Counts
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Businesses with Employees | 13,641 | 13,806 | 13,418 |
| Businesses without Employees | 28,153 | 27,665 | 28,910 |
| Total Businesses | 41,794 | 41,471 | 42,328 |
Business Size Range
| Employees | Companies | % of total |
| 1-4 | 7,076 | 53 |
| 5-9 | 2,731 | 20 |
| 10-19 | 1,746 | 13 |
| 20-49 | 1,190 | 9 |
| 50-99 | 431 | 3 |
| 100-199 | 161 | 1 |
| 200-499 | 57 | 0 |
| 500+ | 26 | 0 |
Employment
Total Employed
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| 216,00 | 211,200 | 220,400 |
Top 45 Largest Employers (Full and Part Time)
| Name | Municipality | Employees |
| District School Board of Niagara | St Catharines | 6,160 |
| Brock University | St Catharines | 5,632 |
| Niagara Region | Thorold | 4,625 |
| Niagara Health System | St Catharines | 4,130 |
| Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort | Niagara Falls | 3,611 |
| Niagara Catholic District School Board | Welland | 3,000 |
| Niagara College Canada | Niagara on the Lake | 2,795 |
| Four Points | Niagara Falls | 2,161 |
| Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc. | Niagara Falls | 2,012 |
| Hilton Hotels and Suites | Niagara Falls | 2,000 |
| Andrew Peller Limited | Grimsby | 1,774 |
| Outlet Collection at Niagara | Niagara on the Lake | 1,450 |
| General Motors Canada | St Catharines | 1,445 |
| Niagara Parks Commission | Niagara Falls | 1,274 |
| City of Niagara Falls - City Hall | Niagara Falls | 1,210 |
| Lais Hotel Properties Limited (Vintage Hotels) | Niagara on the Lake | 1,184 |
| YMCA of Niagara Centre | Welland | 1,143 |
| Government of Ontario (Garden City Tower) | St Catharines | 1,039 |
| Employment Professionals Canada | Fort Erie | 978 |
| Canadian Tire Financial Services | Welland | 963 |
| City of St. Catharines | St Catharines | 961 |
| Stanpac | West Lincoln | 865 |
| HOCO | Niagara Falls | 840 |
| Meridian Credit Union | St Catharines | 799 |
| Canada Border Service Agency | Fort Erie | 773 |
| Great Wolf Lodge | Niagara Falls | 756 |
| ParaMed | Niagara on the Lake | 680 |
| Sitel | St Catharines | 587 |
| Shaw Festival Theatre | Niagara on the Lake | 573 |
| Canada Post | St Catharines | 564 |
| Rankin Construction Inc. | St Catharines | 550 |
| White Oaks Resort | Niagara on the Lake | 523 |
| Care Partners | St Catharines | 455 |
| Hendriks Greenhouses | Lincoln | 440 |
| Bethesda Community Services Inc. | Thorold | 438 |
| Arterra Wines Canada | Niagara Falls | 434 |
| Book Depot | Thorold | 425 |
| Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre | St Catharines | 421 |
| Royal LePage NRC Realty | St Catharines | 415 |
| City of Welland | Welland | 414 |
| Concentrix | Niagara Falls | 400 |
| Tabor Manor (Mennonite Brethren Citizens Home) | St Catharines | 379 |
| Town of Lincoln - Town Hall | Lincoln | 345 |
| Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium | Fort Erie | 340 |
| Family and Childrens Services Niagara | St Catharines | 314 |
Top 5 Sectors by Employment
| Wholesale and retail trade | 28,900 |
| Manufacturing | 26,000 |
| Health care and social assistance | 25,300 |
| Accommodation and food services | 15,900 |
| Construction | 15,200 |
Top 5 Sectors by Employment Growth (2016-2021)
| Manufacturing | 6,200 |
| Educational services | 2,600 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,500 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 2,200 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 2,000 |
Top 5 Sectors by Employment Growth Rate (2016-2021)
| Manufacturing | 31% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 31% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 31% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 23% |
| Educational services | 21% |