Chatham-Kent’s population is at its highest since 2006 thanks to newcomers and young families.
Coordinator of Workforce Planning and Research, Jason Stubitz recently presented a report to council on Chatham-Kent’s population growth, but also stressed the importance of retaining and attracting a younger workforce, since almost 24 percent of Chatham-Kent residents are over the age of 65.
As of July 1, 2024, the population of Chatham-Kent is sitting at an estimated 111,703 people, a growth of nearly 7,200 people since 2015. Stubitz said this is a major turnaround from the declines the municipality experienced in the early 2000s.
A large source of new residents is people moving to Chatham-Kent from other parts of Ontario, with the biggest gains coming from places like Toronto, Windsor, and the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Stubitz said another source of the increase is immigrants and newcomers, with Chatham-Kent welcoming 293 immigrants and 489 non-permanent residents in the past year. The number of permanent residents making Chatham-Kent their home has tripled in number over the last five years. Stubitz doesn’t believe that the government’s recent stance on immigration will directly impact this.
The coordinator of workforce planning and research also advised that while the population growth is encouraging, the community’s ability to attract and retain new residents remains critical.
