Peterborough, Ontario

Economy

Manufacturing is the biggest local industry with General Electric and Quaker Oats maintaining large operations in Peterborough. The city is also a 'bedroom' community for workers of General Motors. The GM Oshawa Autoplex is actually the largest industrial employer of Peterborough citizens.The Peterborough Regional Health Centre is the largest employer, followed by school boards and local government.

Related Topics:
General Electric - Quaker Oats - General Motors

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Companies like General Electric and Outboard Marine, with their high paying manufacturing jobs, had a major impact on the growth of the city. Aging facilities and more expensive labour compared with the developing world worked against the city. The NAFTA agreement of the early 1990's saw a major shift in trading patterns for many Canadian companies. Other innovations like just in time delivery and pressure to produce ever cheaper goods impacted some of the large multi-nationals in the 70s and 80s. Today GE, PepsiCo Quaker, Siemens and numerous smaller manufacturing companies are experiencing signficant growth. Minute Maid (Coca-Cola) recently invested $20 million in a new warehouse and product line while auto parts supplier Ventra has doubled in size. Manufacturing job creation kept pace with the provincial average from 1991-2001. Lower costs, reliable labour and high quality post-secondary institutions are a competitive advantage for Peterborough. Peterborough was ranked number one location for business in Ontario by Canadian Business Magazine in late 2004.

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