Barrie is booming. With the introduction of new factories, distribution hubs, and manufacturing expansions, the city is becoming a magnet for industrial investment. But there’s a growing issue: the number of open roles is outpacing the number of people ready to fill them.

At manucan, we’re working with employers posting factory jobs in Barrie who are experiencing a growth in their business, but hiring isn’t keeping up.

New Investment, Not Enough Workers

Barrie’s industrial base has grown in tandem with infrastructure upgrades, housing developments, and enhanced transit. It’s in the perfect location—close to the GTA, but still affordable. As a result, companies are moving in and scaling up.

Manufacturers across Ontario are struggling to hire for frontline roles. And in Barrie, the challenge is even sharper. While investment is flowing, the workforce isn’t expanding at the same speed.

Without workers to run lines, load inventory, or maintain machines, that growth is at risk.

What Roles Remain Vacant

While skilled trades are always in demand, even entry-level manufacturing jobs in Barrie are sitting unfilled. Common vacancies include:

• Machine operators
  
• Production line workers
  
• Inventory control assistants
  
• Shippers/receivers
  
• Quality control inspectors
  
  

These roles don’t require advanced education—but they do require reliability, shift flexibility, and often, the ability to lift, stand, and move continuously.

In many cases, the people applying simply don’t live nearby. Others aren’t aware of what’s available, or they assume “factory” work is unsafe or outdated—when in fact, today’s environments are clean, regulated, and full of opportunity.

Poaching from Nearby Towns vs Growing Talent Locally

Some Barrie employers have turned to surrounding towns, such as Orillia or Newmarket, to find staff. While that may work temporarily, it’s not a long-term fix. Long commutes often lead to high turnover, and this doesn’t solve the core issue: a lack of local awareness or pathways into these jobs.

Instead, companies need to:

• Engage with high schools and post-secondary institutions
  
• Create retraining programs for unemployed residents
  
• Improve job visibility in key neighbourhoods and cultural communities
  
  

Growing your talent base locally takes longer—but it’s how you build loyalty, reduce turnover, and increase hiring success.

Training Partnerships and Recruitment Support

The good news is that Barrie already has educational institutions, such as Georgian College, local employment agencies, and training centres, that offer relevant programs. What’s missing is the connection between those programs and the job market.

We encourage employers to:

• Partner with pre-apprenticeship and trades-readiness programs
  
• Offer paid training for general labour roles
  
• Work with agencies that support youth, newcomers, and second-chance hiring
  
  

This approach works. One employer in South Barrie recently filled three full-time positions by collaborating with a local job centre focused on youth employment. They hired eager workers and trained them on the floor—now those same workers are training others.

How manucan Expands Candidate Reach in Barrie

At manucan, we help employers get in front of the people who are ready to work but aren’t being reached by general job boards.

On our Barrie manufacturing jobs page, we:

• Promote verified factory jobs in Barrie
  
• Feature listings by shift type, location, and accessibility
  
• Highlight roles suitable for newcomers, youth, and unemployed job seekers
  
• Collaborate with local workforce programs to close the loop between training and hiring
  
  

We also help rewrite job postings so they feel more approachable and relevant to workers who may not identify with traditional “factory” language.

In a tight hiring market, clarity, accessibility, and connection make all the difference.

You Can’t Grow If You Can’t Hire

Barrie has everything manufacturers need to thrive—space, infrastructure, community support, and investment. But no factory runs without people. And right now, people are looking for work—they just need the right nudge, the right message, and the right path in.

manucan helps employers meet local workers where they are, build trust, and get hiring done before production schedules fall behind. Sign up on manucan today!