Labour Market Insights
Looking Back at Windsor-Essex’s Manufacturing Sector in 2024
The Windsor CMA’s Manufacturing sector saw incredible growth in 2024, with 42,300 employed in the industry by December 2024—a 32.2% increase from December 2023 at 32,000 employed in Manufacturing. In fact, this is the highest employment the region has seen in the Manufacturing sector since August 2018 at 42,600 jobs (Statistics Canada).
Today we’re taking a look back through the year at some of the news highlights for this sector, discussing its growth, but also showing where there may have been some job losses—making the gains in this industry even more impressive.
Spotlight on Stellantis’ Windsor Assembly Plant
Windsor Assembly Plant employs 4,200 individuals over two shifts, with a third shift slated to start back up some time in 2025 after it was eliminated in 2020 (Windsor Star). Throughout the year, Windsor Assembly saw many Saturday shifts, a few shut downs, and some promising news.
- January 2024: Windsor Assembly’s hourly-rated production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees were scheduled to work their regular shift on Saturday, January 20 and January 28.
- February 2024: Windsor Assembly’s hourly-rated production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees were scheduled to work their regular shift on Saturday February 4, February 10, on the Family Day Holiday on Monday, February 19, and on Saturday, February 24. On February 9, the Windsor Star reported that Windsor Assembly Plant employees have been working seven days a week since Christmas. Windsor Assembly is still expected to be home to Stellantis’ next new product, expected to start production in September 2025, followed by a major refresh of the Pacifica minivan (Windsor Star).
- March 2024: Production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees at Windsor Assembly Plant worked their regular shift on Saturday, March 23 and were canvassed to work on Good Friday and Saturday, March 30.
- April 2024: Windsor Assembly Plant production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees were scheduled to work their regular shift on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, April 20, and canvassed to report to work on Sunday, April 28.
- May 2024: Windsor Assembly Plant production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees were canvassed to work their regular shifts on Saturday, May 4, Saturday, May 11, Saturday, May 17, Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26.
- June 2024: Windsor Assembly Plant hourly-rated production, skilled trades, and apprentice employees were scheduled to report to work their regular shift on Saturday, June 22 and were canvassed to work Saturday, June 29.
- July 2024: Windsor Assembly Plant’s production day shift was cancelled for July 15 and was also cancelled on July 26.
- August 2024: Windsor Assembly Plant was shut down the week of August 12. Windsor Assembly Plant, which was reduced to one product the past year, is expected to be producing four vehicles by the end of 2026 according to AutoForecast Solutions vice president of global vehicle forecasting Sam Fiorani (Windsor Star).
- September 2024: All hourly-rated production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees at Windsor Assembly Plant were scheduled to report to work on their regular shift on Saturday, September 21 and Saturday, September 28. It was reported that Stellantis will assemble the new version of the Dodge Charger at its Windsor Assembly Plant in early 2026 (Auto123). Stellantis also announced it is re-introducing production of the Chrysler Voyager at Windsor Assembly Plant, and although it is good for job security, the union does not expect this to lead to new hiring (Windsor Star).
- October 2024: All hourly-rated production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees at Windsor Assembly Plant were scheduled to report to work on their regular shift on Saturday, October 5, Saturday, October 12, and Saturday, October 26.
- November 2024: All hourly-rated production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees at Windsor Assembly Plant were scheduled to report to work on their regular shift on Saturday, November 9, Sunday, November 24, and Saturday, November 30. Windsor Assembly Plant began building pilot models of the four-door Dodge Charger SIXPACK. Production of the new Dodge Charger has ramped up significantly, with over 100 units being assembled daily—a major improvement from the mere 42 units produced just one month ago (Mopar Insiders).
- December 2024: All hourly-rated production employees at Windsor Assembly Plant were canvassed to report to work on Sunday, December 8 and all hourly-rated production, skilled trade, and apprentice employees were scheduled to report to work on their regular shift on Saturday, December 21.
Funding Announcements
- It was announced on March 25 that two local companies will share more than $424,000 from the province to expand operations and create 23 new jobs:
- Dimachem is investing nearly $1.2m in three new liquid blending production cells to increase capacity and manufacture products currently imported into Canada (resulting in 16 new jobs and helping to retain 30 positions) and
- Glider Guard Tool & Die is investing $2.8m to expand its operations another 4,000 sq. ft. and buy a new high-speed five-axis milling machine and software (resulting in seven new jobs and helping to retain 88 positions) (WindsorNewsToday/Blackburn).
- On April 11, the Ontario government announced $125 million in investments by four companies to expand local manufacturing capacity in the automotive and food processing sectors while creating 153 new jobs in Windsor and Leamington. This includes creating:
- 96 new jobs at DS Actimo Canada (formerly DS C&K Inc.)
- 12 new jobs at Kautex Textron, 25 new jobs at Integrity Tool & Mold Inc.
- 20 new jobs at Highbury Canco Corp (Windsorite).
- It was announced in August that Lakeshore Concrete, a ready mix concrete supplier, will be adding 30-35 new jobs in 2025 at their new plant (Windsor Star).
- On November 22, the Ontario government announced funding to support nearly $20 million worth of investments by four local groups that will create 29 new jobs:
- Crest Mold Technology Inc. will receive $1.3 million to support an $8.7 million investment by the company for a 7,000-sq. ft. expansion of its facility and adoption of equipment that will allow it to increase capacity and reduce labour-intensive processes and create 10 new jobs.
- Bear’s Performance Inc. will receive $500,000 to support a $3.7 million investment in new equipment to increase automation in its production processes, expand capacity, and enable the company to handle more orders by improving control over quality and time-to-market and create five new jobs.
- Select Tool Inc. will receive $375,000 as part of a $2.5 million investment to expand its facilities by 26,000 sq. ft. and add new equipment to enhance operational capacity and expand its manufacturing facility at 3015 North Talbot Road by 12,000 sq. ft. and create 14 new jobs.
- The City of Windsor will receive $1.5 million to support a $4.8 million investment to provide infrastructure upgrades and site servicing, which will support the construction of the NextStar Energy Inc. EV Battery Plant and adjacent municipal infrastructure areas (AM800).
- In November, it was announced that UE Enclosures Inc. in Leamington is creating 24 new jobs thanks to the help of the Ontario Government and $500,000 in funding through the Regional Development Program’s Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (Windsorite).
Expansions and Openings
- On July 18, Ford Motor Company announced that about 150 jobs will be added to its Windsor Engine Complex when F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks begin production in Oakville in 2026 (AM800).
- In September, it was announced that SERVEONE, which supplies procurement solutions from industrial parts to promotional materials and is a direct service supplier to NextStar Energy, is investing $2-million in a new 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Tecumseh, and has already hired 12 full-time employees (WindsorNewsToday).
- On October 22, it was announced that NextStar Energy officially started battery module production (Windsorite).
- On November 26, APAG Elektronik Corp. hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate its new 4,000-sq. ft. research and development facility located at 3063 Walker Rd. (Windsor Star).
Manufacturing Strikes
- On January 31, 317 Jamieson Laboratories employees went on strike and it was reported on March 5 that the striking workers voted to accept a tentative agreement (WindsorNewsToday, CBC).
Closures
- On April 3, it was announced that Emrick Plastics will close after its parent company decided to consolidate its operations, with approximately 100 employees impacted (AM800).
- Cottam Diecasting LTD. in Tecumseh is shutting down in August, impacting 58 workers, according to their union (CTV).
Conclusion
With the investments the Windsor-Essex region is seeing in the Manufacturing sector, we’re well positioned to continue impressive growth through increased production and a third shift at Windsor Assembly, as well as through the various incoming expansions and funding announced from the government. In addition to all of this great news, the NextStar Energy Battery Plant is expected to be at full production in late 2025 and will employ up to 2,500 people (of which 450 of the positions have already been filled). This will also result in supply chain spin-off jobs estimated to be in the thousands (CBC). This culminates in encouraging news for the region as the Manufacturing sector continues to see significant growth and in-demand job opportunities.
THE FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT WERE SOURCED FROM:
MONTHLY JOB DEMAND REPORT
As of April 2019, the monthly Job Demand Report for Windsor-Essex is created by Workforce WindsorEssex using data collected from unique national, provincial and locally-significant job boards. Between May 2017 and March 2019, job posting data was purchased from CEB Talent Neuron.
MONTHLY JOB SEARCH REPORT
The monthly Job Search Report for Windsor-Essex is created by Workforce WindsorEssex using data collected from four job finding tools, including WEexplore, WEmap jobs, WEjobs board, and the Bridge Timeline Tool. Gender and age information of users is voluntarily shared with the organization.
Questions? Please contact: info@workforcewindsoressex.com.