Population Statistics
Per Capita Income
Education
Employment Statistics
Major Employers Population Statistics

Population Statistics

The population of the Municipality of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is 7,572 (May 2006 census) and within Upper Lake Melville, the secondary trading area, it is estimated at 10,240. The age breakdown of the population is shown on the graph below:

* (Source: Social Economic Impact Assessment, Voisey's Bay Mine/Mill Complex, 1997 )

Happy Valley-Goose Bay has a young, vibrant population. 42% is under 25 years of age, compared to 36% for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The ethnic origins of the population are diverse, as shown on the following graph:


Source: Statistics Canada, 1991

Per Capita Income

The median per capita income for the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area in 1994 was $19,700.00 (1.4 times higher than that for the Province). Average family income for Husband/Wife Families for that year was $54,200.00. In addition, the average amount of income generated by transfer payments (social assistance, workers' compensation, child tax benefit, etc) is estimated at only 58.9% of the provincial average.

Education

The education levels attained by residents equals or exceeds that of other major centres in the Province. The graph shown below compares education levels for those above 15 years of age for Happy Valley-Goose Bay with the cities of Corner Brook and St. John's. Source: Census Canada (1991)

The figure underlines the fact that we have a trained, skilled labour force with a large proportion holding a non-university certificate or a university degree.

Employment Statistics

The Census Canada data illustrated below gives the basic framework of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay labour force by occupational groupings and sector as recorded in the 1991 Census.

Labour Force Participation

The Town has a combined labour force participation rate of 79%, significantly higher than the provincial average of 70%. It also compares quite favourably to the participation rate for the City of St. John's (71.4%), City of Corner Brook (61.7%) and Town of Gander (70.7%).


* (Source: Census Canada, 1991 Census. )

The high percentage of employment in Government and other service sectors reflects the Town's importance as both a military base and a regional administrative centre for the delivery of health care, education, utility and many other government services to central and coastal Labrador and Labrador as a whole.

There have been a number of changes in the economy of Happy Valley-Goose Bay since 1991, but few recent data are available to indicate the effects on the labour force. Changes have been prompted by the boom in mineral exploration activity following the discovery of the Voisey's Bay nickel deposit, the downsizing of Government services, changing use of the Canadian Forces Base by the allied forces (this includes the privatization of some Base support functions and the awarding of the Base management function to a private company, SERCo Facilities Management Inc.). In 2001, the Base saw one of its busiest training seasons is years. Approximately 16,000 military personnel cycled through the Base in the summer of 2001.

The regional tourism industry is also showing significant growth, not only in wilderness and adventure tours but individuals and organized tours taking advantage of the Trans Labrador Highway. In all, there are some 46 Labrador outfitters offering fishing, hunting and wilderness adventure trips, which create indirect business for hotels, restaurants, transportation and retail businesses.

These and other changes in the local economy have been reflected in expanded activity in, for example, transportation, hotels, restaurants, bars, private colleges, environmental and other services.

Major Employers

The largest employer in the Town has traditionally been the Department of National Defense; in recent years, it employed around 21% of the total labour force. DND operations contributed an estimated $77.4 million to the regional GDP in 1992 and an additional $50.9 million to the provincial GDP. Management of the Base is the responsibility of a private company, SERCO Facilities Management Inc. The major employers currently in the Town are outlined below, all of which employ a skilled and educated work force.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS - HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY
EMPLOYERS	EMPLOYEES	EMPLOYERS	EMPLOYEES
SERCo	329*	College of the North Atlantic	98
Labrador School Board	200	Paddon Memorial Home	84
Woodward's Group of Companies	178	Provincial Government	75
Grenfell Regional Health Services	168	Canada Catering	53
Allied Countries	159	Glenn Corporation	50
Labrador Airways/Aviation	152	Town of Happy Valley - Goose Bay	42
Department of National Defence	111**	Terrington Co-op	39
Federal Government	110	Newfoundland Hydro	31
North Mart	100	Warr's Pharmacy	28
		Newfoundland Telephone	25

*fulltime, seasonal & sub-contractors
**military and civilian