CHRIS LOWREY
PONTIAC Sept. 19, 2018
The 2018 edition of the Panorama des Regions du Quebec shows that Pontiac continues to make strides economically – climbing four spots to 78 out of 104 regions in the province when it comes to disposable income.
The average amount of disposable income per capita in the Pontiac currently sits at $23,412, coming in just ahead of the MRC La Vallée de la Gatineau, which had a per capita disposable income of $23,398.
The average disposable income per capita in Quebec is $27,723.
The revelation ought to be welcome news for Pontiac residents who have now seen their region climb in the provincial rankings for the last two years.
In 2016, Pontiac was ranked as the second poorest MRC in all of Quebec. Last year that number ticked up to fourth worst in the province.
In 2012, the region’s disposable income per capita was $20,016. This year’s numbers represent a 15 per cent increase in the region’s disposable income.
However, the gains should be taken in context with the revelation that the Pontiac’s population has decreased by 7.3 per cent since 2001, from 14,822 to 13,843. Nearly 1,000 people have left the Pontiac since 2001.
The region’s labour force participation rate for those between the ages of 25 and 64 is 61.9 per cent. The labour force participation rate is defined as the section of the working population who are employed or are actively seeking employment.
This means that the Pontiac’s labour force participation rate is the sixth worst in the province. The Pontiac is one of only 11 regions with a labour force participation rate lower than 76 per cent.
Compared to regions like MRC de la Jacques Cartier and Caniapiscau, which sit at nearly 84 per cent, the Pontiac falls far short when it comes to labour force participation rate.
In 2012, the region’s labour force participation rate was at 61.5 per cent. That number got up to its high mark of 62.7 per cent in 2014, but has since come back down.
In terms of the Outaouais region, the Pontiac and La Vallée de la Gatineau sit behind the other three regions: Les Collines de l’Outaouais came in a top spot with a disposable income per capita of $29,665; Gatineau has a disposable income per capita of $25,837; while Papineau sits at $24,495.
