Durham College has a $913.3 million economic impact to Durham Region
One out of every 24 jobs in the region is supported by the college.

 Oshawa, ON – Durham College (DC) announced today that, it has a strong economic impact of $913.3 million to Durham Region, according to a recent study conducted by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI).  This substantial contribution is equal to approximately 4.9 per cent of the area’s total gross regional product and supports 9,558 jobs, which means one out of every 24 jobs in the Durham Region is supported by the activities of DC and its students.

 The economic study reports, “The value of Durham College influences both the lives of students and also the Durham Region economy. The college serves a range of industries in the region and supplies local businesses with workers. Society as a whole in Ontario benefits from an expanded economy and an improved quality of life. The benefits created by Durham College extend as far as the provincial government in the form of increased tax revenues and public sector savings.”

 “We have always enjoyed a strong relationship with the broader community,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “We are proud of the role we play in providing access to high-quality, post-secondary education. By producing job-ready graduates who have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, we are also ensuring they have the ability to become community builders in their own right, both personally and in their professional lives.

 The college also added $153.8 million in income to the region during the past year through its day-to-day operations, which is equivalent to supporting 2,320 jobs. Spending by DC in-region students during the same period was $34.1 million, which supports 978 jobs.

 The report also touched on the accumulated contribution of DC alumni currently employed in the regional workforce, equating the value at $725.4 million in added income in the region, equal to 6,260 jobs.

 “In addition to educating students, the college also offers partnerships, corporate training services and applied research services, which benefit businesses and organizations throughout the region,” said Lovisa. “In turn, the support we receive from the community plays a key role in our continued growth and development as an institution and for that we are extremely grateful.”

To view an infographic click here or to read the report click here.

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 About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, the college offers more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and eight apprenticeship programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market. The college is also set to launch its first four-year degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management, in September 2018.

The Oshawa campus features the state-of-the art Student Services building and will soon feature the Centre for Collaborative Education, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017. The new facility will bring together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s most innovative and ground-breaking programs.

The Whitby campus features the award-winning W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, which includes Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a retail store featuring food prepared by students in the college’s culinary programs.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.