Data Source

Statistics Canada - National Household Survey (2011) and Census (2016). 

Measurement and Limitations

Every five years Statistics Canada carries out a census of the people of Canada. On May 10, 2016 a census was performed. All Canadian citizens and landed immigrants with a usual place of residence in Canada were counted. As well, non-permanent residents were counted. This includes: refugee claimants and their family living in Canada, as well as, permit holders (work or study permits) and members of their family living with them.

Mobility refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011. in relation to the place of residence on the same date five years earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers. Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside Canada at the earlier reference date.

The National Household Survey was voluntary, whereas the Census of 2016 was mandatory.

For the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) estimates, the global non-response rate (GNR) is used as an indicator of data quality. This indicator combines complete non-response (household) and partial non-response (question) into a single rate. A smaller GNR indicates a lower risk of non-response bias and as a result, lower risk of inaccuracy. The threshold used for estimates' suppression is a GNR of 50% or more. The GNR for Perth County in 2011 was 27.4% and for Huron County was 31.6%. These numbers meet the threshold, but are not insignificant. 

For more information: Census page

Patterns and Trends

About one-third of Perth residents moved in the last five years, and one-quarter of Huron residents have done so.

Many young people are forced to leave Huron and Perth to pursue higher education. While a few post-secondary schools (University of Waterloo, Fanshawe, Ridgetown, and Georgian) have satellite campuses in the counties offering limited classes, most youth leave Huron and Perth counties for post-secondary education. Some return.