Jobs & economy
Oshawa's economy is no longer just one industry
Oshawa built its name building cars, and General Motors still looms large here. But the city's economy today is anchored by healthcare, public administration, and education, with manufacturing, tech, and logistics layered on top: a far more resilient mix than the Motor City of a generation ago.
Where the work is
Six sectors shaping the local job market
Durham Region's official economic development priorities line up with what residents actually see: healthcare and education lead employment, while the region actively courts energy, bio-sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
Healthcare
Durham Region’s largest and fastest-growing sector. Lakeridge Health runs a multi-site hospital network headquartered in Oshawa, and Ontario Shores provides mental health care on a major campus.
Public administration & education
The Region of Durham, the Ontario Ministry of Finance in Oshawa, and both school boards together form the region’s largest employment cluster.
Manufacturing
Automotive, aerospace, and food processing anchor Oshawa’s industrial base, led by GM’s assembly and technical operations in the city.
Tech & innovation
Ontario Tech University feeds a growing innovation district, with the Regional Innovation Centre in Oshawa and a tech accelerator in nearby Whitby.
Logistics & advanced manufacturing
New energy, bio-sciences, and logistics are the region’s priority growth industries, supported by 401 and 407 highway access.
Agri-food & green energy
Local food production and sustainable energy are named priorities for Durham’s economic development strategy.
Major employers
Who employs the city
Durham Region's top employers by headcount are dominated by public institutions and healthcare, a mix that has kept Oshawa's employment base comparatively stable through manufacturing cycles. Most of these names hire steadily across professional, technical, and service roles.
-
Regional Municipality of Durham
Regional government, major head-office workforce
-
Lakeridge Health
Multi-site hospital network, headquarters in Oshawa
-
Ontario Power Generation
Provincial power producer with a large regional footprint
-
Ontario Ministry of Finance
Major provincial government employer in Oshawa
-
Durham District & Durham Catholic School Boards
Two of the region’s biggest employers
-
Ontario Tech University & Durham College
Two post-secondary institutions on one north-end campus
-
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Specialty hospital on its own Oshawa campus
-
General Motors
Assembly, engineering, and customer operations in Oshawa
-
Concentrix
Large customer-experience employer in the region
The GM story, honestly told
Still here, still huge, and no longer the whole story
At its 1980s peak, GM employed about 23,000 people in Oshawa. Sedan production ended in 2019, and after the plant retooled for pickup trucks it employed roughly 3,000 to 4,600 in the area, with further cuts announced in 2025 and 2026. GM remains one of the city's flagship employers, with its Canadian headquarters, technical centre, and assembly operations here, but Oshawa no longer stakes its future on a single automaker.
What that means for a move
Two-career households land in Oshawa with options: healthcare and education hire steadily, government is the region's biggest employer, and the university feeds a growing tech corridor. The commute to Toronto's job market remains the other pillar, and the GO train makes it a routine one.
Relocating with a job in mind? Let's check the commute.
Whether the job is at Lakeridge, GM, the university, or downtown Toronto, we will map the commute before you pick a neighborhood.