As Waterloo Region’s population continues to grow, its youth unemployment and charitable donation levels aren’t keeping pace.

That’s according to the latest edition of the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation’s Vital Signs report, released Tuesday.

The report, which looks at statistics around various areas of wellness, found that the region’s “donor base” has grown by 1 per cent since 1997, while its population has increased by 24 per cent.

Other highlights from the report include:

  • Nearly 61% of residents who earn $120,000 or more feel a strong sense of belonging to their community, compared to 46% of those who earn less than $40,000 per year
  • Waterloo Region’s arts, culture, recreation and sport employers added 1,900 jobs in 2013, following a significant drop the previous year
  • Between the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College, the region contains more than 60,000 full-time and 33,000 part-time post-secondary students
  • More than 25 per cent of Waterloo Region’s population has a disability that limits their activity