People often think that low income residents have little education, are unemployed or are single parents. These perceptions do not reflect general reality in York Region.

Statistics Canada’s 2006 Census information on income will not be available until May 2008. However, the 2001 Census indicates what to expect. According to the 2001 Census, 71,600 people, or about 10% of York Region’s population, are considered low income.* York Region’s low income residents are not that different from the total population. Many are working, but at lower ends of the wage scale. Many are supporting families with children, and many have post-secondary education. York Region’s low income population is part of the Region’s skilled and adaptive labour force that the economy needs to stay competitive in the face of change, and to survive different economic cycles.