Workforce Tariff Exposure Tool
How exposed is your region to U.S. tariffs?
The IRPP’s Workforce Tariff Exposure Tool helps track how much Canadian jobs rely on exports to the United States and who is at risk when new tariffs take effect. Our tool provides estimates for every local labour market (census division) based on its industries and the trade patterns of its province or territory. To arrive at these estimates, the tool uses tariff rates, recent export data, potential price sensitivity of U.S. buyers and expected labour demand of different exporting industries.
Our tool does not predict job losses, firm closures or other trade-related shifts. Instead, it shows how certain regions and industries are more exposed to tariff changes than others. Our approach can also be adapted to simulate various policy scenarios across tariff rates, targeted products, exceptions applied and buyer responses. Curious about the most exposed communities in your province? Our Sample Questions section shows you how to use this tool to find the answer.
We developed this tool to help policymakers respond to tariffs. The U.S.’s shifting web of tariffs makes it challenging to anticipate who will bear the impact and prepare an effective response. Canadian communities also differ in how much of their workforce depends on exports to the United States — an important factor because national and provincial aggregates can hide pockets of high exposure in small communities where tariffs can cause lasting damage.
Ultimately, we hope our tool can support policy responses as decision-makers navigate increased trade uncertainty.