Employment in non-alcoholic beverage sector reaches ten-year high
Canada’s non-alcoholic beverage sector is employing more Canadians than at any point in the past decade, despite ongoing challenges such as global supply-chain disruptions, rising input costs, and exchange-rate volatility.
According to a report from the Conference Board of Canada, the industry supported 45,000 direct, indirect and induced full-time equivalent jobs in 2024. Direct employment surpassed 16,000 full-time roles, reflecting a stronger pandemic recovery compared to Canada’s overall manufacturing sector.
“The non-alcoholic beverage sector’s resilience is reflective in the thousands of local, good-paying jobs it creates in communities across the country, from production plants to distribution networks,” said Krista Scaldwell, president of the Canadian Beverage Association. “Our members are proud to support jobs across a wide range of sectors, despite the impact of recent trade tensions on the highly integrated beverage supply chain.”
Although total economic output declined by 9.0% in 2024, the sector added a total of $5.8 billion to Canada’s GDP, generating $0.8 in additional GDP for every dollar of output. Regional GDP contributions remained strong, with Ontario accounting for $2.6 billion, Quebec for $1.6 billion and Alberta and British Columbia for $600 million each. The sector also contributed an estimated $2.3 billion in 2024 in direct, indirect, and induced tax revenues across all three levels of government in Canada.
The report notes that the sector’s dependence on imported materials continues to expose it to global market pressures. Although Canada is the world’s fourth-largest producer of primary aluminum, 65% of beverage can sheet is sourced from abroad. Plastic bottles make up 40% of the sector’s packaging costs, with one-third of those costs tied to imports. Since 2019, Canada has also become a net importer of sorted and baled plastic waste and scrap, highlighting the need to strengthen domestic recycling and processing capacity.
“Efforts to retain and process more recyclable packaging materials within Canada are critical to improving competitiveness,” Scaldwell added. “A coordinated national recycling strategy would help stabilize supply, reduce dependence on imports, and protect a growing source of employment that helps sustain the communities where we operate.”
In 2024, households spent $12.5 billion on non-alcoholic beverages, three per cent above pre-pandemic levels. Consumer preferences have also shifted, moving toward beverages with functional ingredients, reduced sugar, organic certification, and plant-based components.
