Incredible Numbers You Didn’t Know About Pearson Airport

Published March 26, 2017 at 3:45 am

For most people in Brampton, Pearson Airport is something we enjoy (for the most part, as airports do come with their share of inconveniences) but think of infrequently when we’re not traveling.

For most people in Brampton, Pearson Airport is something we enjoy (for the most part, as airports do come with their share of inconveniences) but think of infrequently when we’re not traveling.

What many of us don’t realize is how many people from Peel the airport employs. 

After several years of incredible passenger growth, The Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) updated its previous Global Hub Economic Impact study measuring, well, the economic impact of Toronto Pearson’s operations and the findings are interesting.

“For the first time, we now have data available for specific regions, including Peel,” says Siobhan Desrochers, senior advisor, communications with the GTAA. 

What are some of the more interesting findings?

  • On-going operation of Toronto Pearson generates 49,000 jobs–up from 40,000 in 2011. These include jobs like taxi-drivers, baggage handlers, flight crew and security staff.
  • In total, Toronto Pearson generates or facilitates 332,000 jobs, which accounts for 6.3 per cent of Ontario’s GDP ($42 Billion).

The study found that Toronto Pearson generates or facilitates 86,000 jobs located in Peel, which translates to a very surprising one in ten jobs in the region.

Of these jobs, 44,000 are considered “direct jobs”–meaning those reliant on the ongoing activity of the airport, such as pilots or those employed by catering companies. This is equivalent to as many direct jobs created by the entire health sector in Peel.

According to the study, these direct jobs support an additional 11,000 indirect jobs in Peel within the airport’s supply chain (meaning supplying the airport with goods and services that it needs to operate). These jobs range from service sectors, to manufacturing, freight, consultancy, construction and many other sectors.

The study mentions that the 25,000 people who work at the airport and live in Peel, combined with the 8,000 who live in Peel and whose job is indirectly related to the airport, generate a significant amount of spending.

In fact, it appears that spending is pretty good for the region overall.

“This in turn creates jobs in the local area – in retail, service and other sectors that people need at and around their home,” the report reads. “This ‘induced’ employment effect is likely to support over 10,000 more jobs in Peel. We also know that the airport brings inbound visitors to Peel, who will spend money in the local economy on accommodation, transport, food, drink and other goods during their stay. A broad estimate of the value of this spending to Peel suggests that it might support up to 6,000 jobs in the region in these sectors.

The airport also connects the region to broader economic opportunities.

“If we include indirect, induced, inbound visitor spending-related and catalytic employment, the airport facilitates a combined 86,000 jobs in Peel,” the study notes. 

In addition to studying the number of jobs located in Peel, the report also shows how many residents are working in jobs generated or facilitated by Toronto Pearson Airport (although it’s important to note that these jobs may or may not be located in Peel). Results showed that 62,000 Peel residents are working in jobs generated of facilitated by Toronto Pearson. 

As mentioned earlier, the airport’s direct employment effect alone is equivalent to nearly 1 in 10 of all jobs in Peel. The airport provides more than twice the number of jobs in the public administration sector and around the same amount of jobs as Peel’s professional, scientific and technical sector.

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