When you live in a city, you want to know a few facts about its economy. Not for the sake of writing some thesis or in any other way becoming an expert, but just to know how stable a place is. Without a sound and diversified economy, cities don't really have much to offer their residents but worry.
People in living on real estate in St. Catharines have little to worry about in this regard. While the economy of the city has traditionally been based around the manufacturing centre, it has diversified quite nicely. Manufacturing still remains a significant presence, however. Up until five years ago, General Motors was the largest employer in the city. High pay and low skill jobs abounded, as did even higher pay, high skilled jobs. GM employees could often afford to have a landscaping Kitchener company come do their yard work thanks to the auto money flying around.
Of course, domestic cars aren't quite what they used to be, although the two GM plants in St. Catharines seem to be in no danger of shutting down. This might be due to the fact that they are they so close to the new preferred crossing at the Canada-US border.
Other automotive based manufacturing companies are also to be found in St. Catharines. TRW, which makes automotive parts, has operations in the area. They pay high enough wages for parents to send their children to the best Mississauga dentist or attend school in Toronto. Companies such as Foster Wheeler also operate in the area. Employees work behind Vynckier enclosures and other safety style equipment around the clock.
While manufacturing used to be the largest sector in the city, it no longer holds that title. Instead, the service industry can be said to be the most important to the city's economy. That's no wonder, as the service industry is a vast category. It can be applied to people who sell mattresses in Toronto as well as to people who answer the phones at a customer hot line. In fact, St. Catharines is the biggest telecommunications market in the country, with the largest call centres as well as their headquarters located here.
Last but not least, we can't forget the tourism industry. Our city is the heart of the Niagara region, a place where tourists flock to in the thousands each and every year. They take pictures of the famous falls on their cell phones complete with a global SIM card and then head to the city to stay for a few days. The Royal Henry Regatta and other annual events also attract big money from tourists every year.
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