This labour market fact sheet includes an analysis of current data for Canada and the provinces on:
Participation rates;
Employment rates;
Unemployment rates; and
Long-term unemployment.
Other labour market fact sheets examine data on employment - full-time, part-time, and temporary employment - and on weekly earnings and minimum wage rates.
PARTICIPATION RATES
The participation rate is defined as the number of labour force participants expressed as a percentage of the population aged 15 and older. The rate for a particular group - by age, gender, or marital status, for example - is the number of labour force participants in that group expressed as a percentage of the population of that group.
In 2006, 17.6 million Canadians participated in the labour force. That was 67.2% of the population aged 15 and older. Participation rates have remained relatively stable over the last several years, rising 1.4 percentage points between 2000 and 2006.
The highest participation rate was among those aged 25 to 44, at 86.9%; this rate has been steady over the last six years. Between 2000 and 2006, the largest increase in participation rates was among those aged 45 to 64, which rose by 4 percentage points.
Approximately 331,800 Canadian seniors were part of the labour force in 2006. Participation rates among Canada’s seniors aged 65+ have been steadily rising, from 6% in 2000 to 8.3% by 2006.
Labour force participation rates are generally higher among men than women. In 2006, the rate for men was 72.5%, compared to 62.1% among women. The only exception was among those aged 15 to 24, where the rate for both genders was 66.4%. Men aged 25 to 44 had a participation rate of 92% and women, 81.8%. Among seniors, men had a participation rate of 12.1% in 2006, compared to only 5.2% among women. Between 2000 and 2006, the rate among senior men rose by 2.6% and among senior women, by 1.9%.
Provincially in 2006, participation rates were highest in Alberta (at 73.4%) and lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador (at 59.2%). Between 2000 and 2006, participation rates rose in all provinces, with the largest increase (3.8%) reported in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Among the working-age population 25 to 44 years, participation rates were highest in Prince Edward Island, at 90%, and lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador, at 82.8%.
Among seniors aged 65+, participation rates were highest in Saskatchewan, at 13.5%, and lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador, at 3.2%.
Labour
Force Participation Rates (%) by Age Group,
Canada and
Provinces, 2000 to 2006
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
% pt change 2000 to 2006
Canada
Aged
15+
65.8
65.9
66.9
67.5
67.5
67.2
67.2
1.4
15 to 24 yrs
64.4
64.7
66.6
67.4
67.0
65.9
66.4
2.0
25 to 44 yrs
65.8
65.9
66.9
67.5
67.5
67.2
67.2
1.4
45 to 64 yrs
69.8
70.2
71.7
73.2
73.5
73.5
73.8
4.0
Aged 65+
6.0
6.1
6.7
7.5
7.7
8.1
8.3
2.3
Newfoundland
and Labrador
Aged
15+
55.4
56.8
58.2
59.3
59.2
58.8
59.2
3.8
15 to 24 yrs
47.3
50.7
53.5
55.1
55.0
54.0
53.7
6.4
25 to 44 yrs
77.6
79.5
80.4
81.3
80.7
81.4
82.8
5.2
45 to 64 yrs
56.5
58.4
60.8
62.2
62.9
62.3
63.4
6.9
Aged 65+
2.7
1.3
2.2
2.9
3.5
3.8
3.2
0.5
Prince
Edward Island
Aged
15+
66.7
67.1
67.6
67.7
68.0
68.5
68.7
2.0
15 to 24 yrs
68.4
67.7
70.1
70.3
67.7
68.5
70.2
1.8
25 to 44 yrs
89.2
89.0
89.9
89.3
90.1
89.6
90.0
0.8
45 to 64 yrs
70.5
72.4
72.3
74.2
75.5
76.2
76.2
5.7
Aged 65+
5.4
7.0
7.5
6.3
6.7
9.4
9.8
4.4
Nova
Scotia
Aged
15+
61.3
61.9
62.6
63.1
64.1
63.6
62.9
1.6
15 to 24 yrs
62.2
64.1
64.9
67.5
67.4
66.4
66.7
4.5
25 to 44 yrs
84.4
85.0
85.7
85.8
86.6
86.2
85.7
1.3
45 to 64 yrs
62.6
63.9
64.9
65.8
68.6
68.4
67.6
5.0
Aged 65+
4.3
4.0
4.9
4.5
4.8
5.7
5.6
1.3
New
Brunswick
Aged
15+
61.5
61.9
63.4
63.2
63.9
63.6
63.7
2.2
15 to 24 yrs
61.4
64.0
66.3
65.0
65.7
65.2
66.1
4.7
25 to 44 yrs
84.1
83.9
85.6
85.1
85.3
85.9
86.7
2.6
45 to 64 yrs
62.9
63.8
65.6
66.7
68.6
68.4
68.4
5.5
Aged 65+
3.6
3.6
4.3
4.7
4.9
4.5
4.7
1.1
Quebec
Aged
15+
63.1
63.5
65.2
66.0
65.8
65.6
65.5
2.4
15 to 24 yrs
61.3
62.6
66.4
68.4
67.6
66.2
66.2
4.9
25 to 44 yrs
85.1
85.4
86.8
87.2
87.4
87.0
87.2
2.1
45 to 64 yrs
65.5
66.0
68.1
69.6
69.7
70.4
70.6
5.1
Aged 65+
3.3
4.0
4.4
5.2
5.5
5.9
6.4
3.1
Ontario
Aged
15+
67.0
67.3
67.7
68.5
68.4
68.0
67.7
0.7
15 to 24 yrs
66.1
65.7
66.5
67.2
66.6
64.7
64.6
-1.5
25 to 44 yrs
86.9
87.4
87.4
87.5
87.7
87.9
87.1
0.2
45 to 64 yrs
71.4
71.8
72.8
74.9
75.0
74.6
75.2
3.8
Aged 65+
6.7
6.9
7.5
8.4
8.4
8.9
8.7
2.0
Manitoba
Aged
15+
67.9
67.8
69.0
68.7
69.1
68.6
68.8
0.9
15 to 24 yrs
71.4
71.9
73.4
72.4
71.3
70.6
72.0
0.6
25 to 44 yrs
88.4
88.3
88.7
88.2
88.7
87.8
87.4
-1.0
45 to 64 yrs
74.1
74.2
77.2
77.0
77.9
77.5
77.4
3.3
Aged 65+
8.4
7.5
7.2
8.1
8.4
9.0
10.0
1.6
Saskatchewan
Aged
15+
66.8
65.6
66.8
67.8
67.9
68.1
69.1
2.3
15 to 24 yrs
66.1
65.0
66.4
68.1
68.2
68.5
71.0
4.9
25 to 44 yrs
87.4
86.6
87.9
88.5
88.4
88.2
89.2
1.8
45 to 64 yrs
75.8
75.4
77.4
78.7
78.6
78.4
79.3
3.5
Aged 65+
13.3
10.9
10.9
11.6
12.4
13.1
13.5
0.2
Alberta
Aged
15+
72.2
72.4
73.0
73.5
73.5
72.7
73.4
1.2
15 to 24 yrs
70.5
70.6
71.2
72.0
71.9
70.6
72.1
1.6
25 to 44 yrs
87.8
87.7
88.0
88.7
87.9
87.2
87.7
-0.1
45 to 64 yrs
76.7
78.3
79.7
79.8
80.9
80.3
80.8
4.1
Aged 65+
10.3
9.4
9.7
11.3
12.4
11.6
12.1
1.8
British
Columbia
Aged
15+
64.8
64.0
65.1
65.6
65.5
65.6
65.7
0.9
15 to 24 yrs
61.4
60.5
63.4
63.1
63.3
64.8
66.1
4.7
25 to 44 yrs
84.4
84.2
84.9
85.4
86.3
85.3
85.4
1.0
45 to 64 yrs
71.8
70.5
71.5
73.1
72.4
73.2
72.8
1.0
Aged 65+
5.2
5.2
6.6
7.2
7.1
8.1
8.2
3.0
Source:
Calculations by the Canadian Council on Social Development using data from
Statistics
Canada's Labour Force Historical Review, 2006.
EMPLOYMENT RATES
The employment rate is defined as the number of persons who are employed expressed as a percentage of the Canadian population aged 15 and older. The employment rate for a particular group − by age, gender, or marital status, for example − is the number in that group who are employed expressed as a percentage of the population for that group.
The overall employment rate in Canada in 2006 was 63%, and for young adults aged 15 to 24, it was 58.7%. Employment rates were highest among workers aged 25 to 44, at 82%; for those aged 45 to 64, the rate was 70.2%. Employment rates were lowest among seniors over age 65, at 7.9%.
Between 2000 and 2006, employment rates rose across all age groups. The largest growth in rates over this six-year period was among those aged 25 to 44 − an increase of 4 percentage points.
As noted above, employment rates were highest among workers aged 25 to 44, with higher rates for men in this age group than for women (86.8% compared to 77.2%). With the exception of young adults 15 to 24 years, employment rates were higher for men than for women across all age groups in 2006.
Between 2000 and 2006, the largest rise in employment rates was in Newfoundland and Labrador (4.3 percentage points), while Ontario recorded the smallest increase (0.3 percentage points). Across all provinces, employment rates rose the most among workers aged 45 to 64, with the most dramatic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador (6.7 percentage point increase).
Employment
Rates, Canada and Provinces, by Gender and Age Group, 2000 to 2006
Per cent (%)
% pt change 2000 to 2006
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Canada
Both genders
Aged 15+
61.3
61.1
61.7
62.4
62.7
62.7
63.0
1.7
15 to 24 yrs
56.3
56.3
57.5
58.3
58.0
57.8
58.7
2.4
25 to 44 yrs
80.8
80.6
80.8
81.2
81.7
81.8
82.0
1.2
45 to 64 yrs
66.2
66.3
67.5
68.9
69.5
69.6
70.2
4.0
Aged 65+
5.9
5.9
6.5
7.2
7.4
7.8
7.9
2.0
Men
Aged 15+
67.3
66.8
67.1
67.6
67.8
67.7
67.7
0.4
15 to 24 yrs
56.8
56.5
57.4
57.9
57.7
56.7
57.9
1.1
25 to 44 yrs
86.5
85.9
85.7
86.1
86.3
86.7
86.8
0.3
45 to 64 yrs
73.8
73.5
74.1
74.9
75.7
75.9
75.7
1.9
Aged 65+
9.3
9.1
10.0
11.1
11.4
11.7
11.5
2.2
Women
Aged 15+
55.4
55.6
56.6
57.4
57.8
57.8
58.3
2.9
15 to 24 yrs
55.7
56.2
57.6
58.6
58.4
58.9
59.5
3.8
25 to 44 yrs
75.1
75.3
75.9
76.2
77.0
77.0
77.2
2.1
45 to 64 yrs
58.7
59.3
61.0
63.1
63.6
63.5
64.9
6.2
Aged 65+
3.2
3.3
3.7
4.1
4.3
4.8
5.0
1.8
Newfoundland and Labrador
Both genders
Aged 15+
46.1
47.7
48.5
49.5
49.8
49.8
50.4
4.3
15 to 24 yrs
35.1
38.2
41.4
42.0
42.7
42.4
41.4
6.3
25 to 44 yrs
65.2
67.3
66.9
68.5
68.1
69.5
71.2
6.0
45 to 64 yrs
48.6
50.7
52.2
53.2
54.6
53.7
55.3
6.7
Aged 65+
2.7
1.2
2.0
2.8
3.4
3.5
2.9
0.2
Men
Aged 15+
49.9
51.0
52.0
52.7
53.4
53.0
52.7
2.8
15 to 24 yrs
34.3
36.8
42.2
41.3
42.5
41.4
39.9
5.6
25 to 44 yrs
69.0
69.3
69.0
69.7
70.3
71.9
72.5
3.5
45 to 64 yrs
54.9
57.6
58.0
59.2
60.3
58.9
59.1
4.2
Aged 65+
4.2
2.2
3.3
5.4
5.7
4.5
4.7
0.5
Women
Aged 15+
42.5
44.6
45.3
46.5
46.5
46.8
48.3
5.8
15 to 24 yrs
36.3
39.5
40.5
42.7
43.1
43.7
42.9
6.6
25 to 44 yrs
61.5
65.5
65.0
67.5
66.1
67.1
69.9
8.4
45 to 64 yrs
42.6
44.0
46.6
47.3
49.1
48.6
51.7
9.1
Aged 65+
1.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.6
1.4
-0.2
Prince Edward Island
Both genders
Aged 15+
58.7
59.0
59.5
60.2
60.3
61.1
61.1
2.4
15 to 24 yrs
58.4
56.3
59.3
60.0
55.9
57.4
60.1
1.7
25 to 44 yrs
78.4
79.1
79.6
79.9
80.4
80.9
80.2
1.8
45 to 64 yrs
63.0
64.3
64.1
66.6
68.4
68.7
68.6
5.6
Aged 65+
5.4
7.0
6.9
5.7
6.7
8.9
8.7
3.3
Men
Aged 15+
62.2
63.2
62.5
63.6
63.2
63.5
63.5
1.3
15 to 24 yrs
58.9
56.3
58.2
60.2
55.1
54.1
57.6
-1.3
25 to 44 yrs
80.1
82.4
80.9
81.2
82.7
81.5
80.0
-0.1
45 to 64 yrs
67.5
69.1
68.6
70.7
71.9
72.1
73.3
5.8
Aged 65+
8.2
12.2
11.8
9.0
10.1
15.0
13.6
5.4
Women
Aged 15+
55.3
55.0
56.7
57.0
57.7
58.9
58.9
3.6
15 to 24 yrs
58.5
56.8
60.4
59.8
56.7
61.2
63.0
4.5
25 to 44 yrs
76.8
76.0
78.8
78.6
79.2
80.3
80.4
3.6
45 to 64 yrs
58.3
59.5
59.8
62.2
65.1
65.4
64.6
6.3
Aged 65+
2.1
3.1
3.1
3.0
4.0
4.0
5.9
3.8
Nova Scotia
Both genders
Aged 15+
55.7
55.9
56.6
57.3
58.4
58.2
57.9
2.2
15 to 24 yrs
52.4
52.8
53.4
56.8
57.2
56.4
57.5
5.1
25 to 44 yrs
77.2
77.6
78.5
79.0
79.5
79.5
79.6
2.4
45 to 64 yrs
58.4
59.3
60.2
60.8
63.8
64.0
63.2
4.8
Aged 65+
4.0
3.9
4.8
4.3
4.7
5.3
5.4
1.4
Men
Aged 15+
60.7
60.6
60.6
61.5
62.9
62.3
61.1
0.4
15 to 24 yrs
51.4
52.6
51.5
55.1
56.5
54.6
55.9
4.5
25 to 44 yrs
82.0
82.3
81.7
81.9
83.5
82.6
82.3
0.3
45 to 64 yrs
65.1
64.6
66.2
67.4
69.6
70.1
67.3
2.2
Aged 65+
6.3
6.4
7.2
7.1
7.4
8.3
7.8
1.5
Women
Aged 15+
51.0
51.6
52.8
53.3
54.2
54.5
55.0
4.0
15 to 24 yrs
53.4
52.9
55.3
58.6
58.1
58.3
59.4
6.0
25 to 44 yrs
72.7
73.2
75.3
76.2
75.7
76.7
77.1
4.4
45 to 64 yrs
51.9
54.1
54.4
54.4
58.3
58.3
59.2
7.3
Aged 65+
2.4
2.0
2.9
2.2
2.6
3.0
3.5
1.1
New Brunswick
Both genders
Aged 15+
55.4
55.0
57.0
56.7
57.6
57.4
58.1
2.7
15 to 24 yrs
51.7
53.0
56.2
54.4
55.7
55.4
56.9
5.2
25 to 44 yrs
76.4
75.6
77.8
76.9
77.4
78.3
80.0
3.6
45 to 64 yrs
57.6
57.4
59.5
61.1
63.2
62.5
63.0
5.4
Aged 65+
3.5
3.3
4.2
4.3
4.7
4.3
4.5
1.0
Men
Aged 15+
60.3
59.2
60.4
60.1
60.7
60.5
61.3
1.0
15 to 24 yrs
49.7
50.8
53.1
52.3
53.1
53.7
55.8
6.1
25 to 44 yrs
79.7
78.9
80.5
78.7
79.5
80.5
81.5
1.8
45 to 64 yrs
65.7
63.3
64.4
66.4
67.5
66.2
67.0
1.3
Aged 65+
6.6
6.3
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.3
7.3
0.7
Women
Aged 15+
50.7
51.1
53.6
53.5
54.7
54.5
55.1
4.4
15 to 24 yrs
53.8
55.2
59.3
56.4
58.4
57.4
58.0
4.2
25 to 44 yrs
73.2
72.5
75.2
75.2
75.3
76.0
78.4
5.2
45 to 64 yrs
49.4
51.5
54.6
56.0
58.8
59.0
59.0
9.6
Aged 65+
1.3
1.1
2.1
2.4
2.9
2.7
2.3
1.0
Quebec
Both genders
Aged 15+
57.8
57.9
59.5
60.0
60.2
60.1
60.2
2.4
15 to 24 yrs
52.7
54.0
57.3
58.8
57.8
57.3
57.2
4.5
25 to 44 yrs
78.7
78.5
80.1
79.8
80.5
80.1
80.8
2.1
45 to 64 yrs
60.7
61.0
62.9
64.2
64.9
65.7
65.8
5.1
Aged 65+
3.2
3.7
4.2
5.0
5.3
5.7
6.0
2.8
Men
Aged 15+
64.5
64.4
65.7
65.3
65.3
65.0
65.0
0.5
15 to 24 yrs
54.9
55.5
58.1
57.9
56.7
55.6
57.1
2.2
25 to 44 yrs
83.8
83.2
84.7
83.8
83.9
83.4
84.4
0.6
45 to 64 yrs
69.5
69.8
70.7
71.0
71.9
72.3
71.4
1.9
Aged 65+
5.6
6.3
7.3
8.2
8.4
8.7
8.6
3.0
Women
Aged 15+
51.4
51.7
53.7
54.9
55.3
55.5
55.6
4.2
15 to 24 yrs
50.4
52.5
56.5
59.7
59.0
59.0
57.3
6.9
25 to 44 yrs
73.5
73.7
75.3
75.6
76.9
76.7
77.1
3.6
45 to 64 yrs
52.1
52.5
55.4
57.6
58.2
59.3
60.4
8.3
Aged 65+
1.4
1.9
2.0
2.6
2.9
3.4
4.0
2.6
Ontario
Both genders
Aged 15+
63.2
63.0
62.9
63.8
63.8
63.5
63.5
0.3
15 to 24 yrs
58.2
57.4
57.3
57.5
57.2
55.7
56.1
-2.1
25 to 44 yrs
82.6
82.5
81.7
82.2
82.5
83.0
82.3
-0.3
45 to 64 yrs
68.5
68.6
69.3
71.3
71.6
71.1
72.0
3.5
Aged 65+
6.4
6.7
7.3
8.1
8.2
8.6
8.3
1.9
Men
Aged 15+
69.2
68.6
68.2
69.0
68.9
68.6
68.1
-1.1
15 to 24 yrs
58.1
56.7
56.6
57.4
56.7
54.2
54.9
-3.2
25 to 44 yrs
88.8
88.2
86.7
87.9
87.8
88.2
87.5
-1.3
45 to 64 yrs
76.1
75.7
76.0
76.8
77.4
77.6
77.2
1.1
Aged 65+
9.5
10.1
10.9
11.9
12.3
12.6
12.0
2.5
Women
Aged 15+
57.3
57.6
57.8
58.7
58.8
58.6
59.0
1.7
15 to 24 yrs
58.4
58.2
58.0
57.6
57.7
57.3
57.4
-1.0
25 to 44 yrs
76.4
76.9
76.6
76.6
77.2
77.8
77.1
0.7
45 to 64 yrs
61.1
61.7
62.7
66.0
65.9
64.8
67.0
5.9
Aged 65+
4.1
4.1
4.5
5.1
4.8
5.3
5.3
1.2
Manitoba
Both genders
Aged 15+
64.5
64.4
65.5
65.3
65.4
65.3
65.8
1.3
15 to 24 yrs
64.7
64.9
65.9
65.5
63.5
63.8
65.6
0.9
25 to 44 yrs
84.5
84.5
84.9
84.2
84.6
84.2
84.2
-0.3
45 to 64 yrs
71.5
71.6
74.4
74.4
75.2
74.9
75.1
3.6
Aged 65+
8.2
7.3
7.0
7.9
8.2
8.8
9.8
1.6
Men
Aged 15+
71.0
70.9
71.2
71.0
70.7
70.8
71.2
0.2
15 to 24 yrs
66.4
66.9
66.9
66.5
64.2
64.3
66.2
-0.2
25 to 44 yrs
89.9
90.0
89.8
88.9
89.2
89.0
89.5
-0.4
45 to 64 yrs
78.2
78.3
79.6
79.9
80.3
80.2
79.5
1.3
Aged 65+
13.7
11.8
12.0
13.5
13.0
13.7
14.9
1.2
Women
Aged 15+
58.3
58.1
60.0
59.8
60.3
60.1
60.7
2.4
15 to 24 yrs
62.9
62.8
64.9
64.6
63.0
63.3
65.1
2.2
25 to 44 yrs
79.2
78.8
80.0
79.4
80.0
79.3
78.7
-0.5
45 to 64 yrs
65.0
65.0
69.3
69.1
70.2
69.8
70.7
5.7
Aged 65+
4.1
4.0
3.3
3.8
4.6
5.0
5.8
1.7
Saskatchewan
Both genders
Aged 15+
63.3
61.8
63.1
64.0
64.3
64.6
65.9
2.6
15 to 24 yrs
59.1
57.5
59.2
60.8
61.1
61.5
64.9
5.8
25 to 44 yrs
83.6
82.1
83.5
83.8
84.1
84.5
85.4
1.8
45 to 64 yrs
73.0
72.6
74.2
75.9
75.8
75.5
76.5
3.5
Aged 65+
13.3
10.8
10.7
11.4
12.0
12.9
13.4
0.1
Men
Aged 15+
69.7
68.2
69.2
69.3
69.7
70.3
71.3
1.6
15 to 24 yrs
60.4
58.8
62.2
62.1
62.7
63.4
66.6
6.2
25 to 44 yrs
88.8
87.7
88.0
88.1
88.5
88.9
89.8
1.0
45 to 64 yrs
79.3
79.0
80.0
80.6
80.1
79.8
80.7
1.4
Aged 65+
22.2
18.3
18.2
18.1
19.6
22.0
21.3
-0.9
Women
Aged 15+
57.2
55.7
57.1
58.9
59.1
59.0
60.6
3.4
15 to 24 yrs
57.6
56.2
56.0
59.5
59.4
59.5
62.9
5.3
25 to 44 yrs
78.5
76.4
78.9
79.6
79.9
80.0
81.1
2.6
45 to 64 yrs
66.8
66.2
68.4
71.1
71.6
71.2
72.3
5.5
Aged 65+
6.2
4.8
4.8
6.0
5.9
5.7
7.1
0.9
Alberta
Both genders
Aged 15+
68.6
69.0
69.1
69.8
70.1
69.8
70.8
2.2
15 to 24 yrs
63.1
64.1
63.6
65.4
65.8
65.4
67.2
4.1
25 to 44 yrs
84.3
84.1
84.0
84.7
84.2
84.3
85.2
0.9
45 to 64 yrs
74.3
76.0
76.9
76.7
78.3
77.9
78.7
4.4
Aged 65+
10.1
9.2
9.5
11.1
12.1
11.3
11.9
1.8
Men
Aged 15+
75.2
75.1
74.9
75.7
76.1
76.1
76.9
1.7
15 to 24 yrs
64.7
65.3
64.3
65.7
67.7
66.4
67.3
2.6
25 to 44 yrs
90.8
90.5
90.0
91.3
90.4
92.0
91.9
1.1
45 to 64 yrs
81.9
82.6
83.6
82.9
84.3
83.6
85.6
3.7
Aged 65+
16.2
14.6
14.3
17.3
17.5
16.9
17.4
1.2
Women
Aged 15+
62.0
62.8
63.2
63.7
64.1
63.4
64.6
2.6
15 to 24 yrs
61.3
62.8
62.9
65.2
63.8
64.4
67.1
5.8
25 to 44 yrs
77.5
77.5
77.8
77.8
77.7
76.3
78.2
0.7
45 to 64 yrs
66.5
69.3
70.1
70.4
72.1
72.0
71.7
5.2
Aged 65+
5.0
4.6
5.5
5.9
7.7
6.6
7.2
2.2
British Columbia
Both genders
Aged 15+
60.2
59.0
59.6
60.3
60.9
61.8
62.5
2.3
15 to 24 yrs
53.0
52.1
53.8
54.0
54.8
58.2
60.7
7.7
25 to 44 yrs
78.9
78.0
78.1
79.2
80.9
80.9
81.8
2.9
45 to 64 yrs
68.1
66.6
67.1
68.5
68.3
69.5
70.0
1.9
Aged 65+
5.1
4.9
6.2
6.9
6.8
7.8
7.7
2.6
Men
Aged 15+
65.2
63.6
63.9
64.8
65.5
66.7
67.2
2.0
15 to 24 yrs
52.3
51.3
53.0
52.9
53.7
57.2
58.7
6.4
25 to 44 yrs
84.7
83.3
83.0
83.9
85.4
86.4
87.1
2.4
45 to 64 yrs
74.0
72.3
72.2
74.5
74.7
76.0
76.3
2.3
Aged 65+
7.8
6.7
9.0
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.9
3.1
Women
Aged 15+
55.3
54.6
55.4
55.9
56.4
57.1
58.0
2.7
15 to 24 yrs
53.7
52.8
54.7
55.2
56.0
59.4
62.8
9.1
25 to 44 yrs
73.2
72.8
73.4
74.5
76.5
75.4
76.6
3.4
45 to 64 yrs
62.2
61.0
62.0
62.7
62.1
63.2
63.9
1.7
Aged 65+
2.9
3.4
3.9
4.0
3.9
5.5
5.0
2.1
Source: Calculations by the Canadian Council
on Social Development using data from Statistics Canada's Labour
Force Historical Review,
2006.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the labour force. The unemployment rate for a particular group − by age, gender, or marital status, for example − is the number in that group who are unemployed expressed as a percentage of the labour force for that group.
Unemployment rates in Canada hit a low of 6.8% in 2000, rose to 7.2% in 2001, and peaked at 7.7% in 2002. Rates declined very slightly to 7.6% the following year, then dropped steadily to reach 6.3% in 2006.
There was little variation between the unemployment rates of men and women in 2006; the overall rate for men was 6.5% and for women, 6.1%. The greatest difference was among young adults aged 15 to 24, where men had an unemployment rate of 12.8% in 2006, compared to 10.4% among young women.
Across the provinces in 2006, unemployment rates were highest in Newfoundland and Labrador, at 14.8%. Unemployment rates in all four Atlantic provinces exceded 8%. Rates were lowest in Western Canada, with Alberta recording the lowest unemployment rate in 2006, at 3.4%.
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT
Long-term unemployment is defined as unemployment of 53 weeks duration or more.
1.1 million Canadians over age 15 were unemployed in 2006, and of those, 4.5% were unemployed for more than 53 weeks. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of long-term unemployed fluctuated, but it dropped by 31% over that period.
Of the 50,500 Canadians who experienced long-term unemployment in 2006, 71.9% were aged 25 to 54, 18% were aged 55 to 64, and the remaining 10.1% were young adults 15 to 24 years and seniors aged 65+.
Men were more likely than women to experience long-term unemployment − 62% compared to 38%.
Provincially, long-term unemployment was highest in Quebec in 2006, at 6.4%. In Alberta, no individuals were unemployed for more than 53 weeks.
Unemployment
Rates, Canada and Provinces, by Gender and Age Group, 2000 to 2006
Per cent (%)
% pt change 2000 to 2006
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Canada
Both genders
Aged 15+
6.8
7.2
7.7
7.6
7.2
6.8
6.3
-0.5
15 to 24 yrs
12.7
12.9
13.6
13.6
13.4
12.4
11.6
-1.1
25 to 44 yrs
6.0
6.5
7.0
6.8
6.5
6.0
5.6
-0.4
45 to 64 yrs
5.3
5.5
5.8
5.9
5.4
5.3
4.9
-0.4
Aged 65+
2.6
3.3
3.2
3.4
3.2
3.4
4.4
1.8
Men
Aged 15+
6.9
7.5
8.1
7.9
7.5
7.0
6.5
-0.4
15 to 24 yrs
13.8
14.5
15.3
15.3
14.9
14.2
12.8
-1.0
25 to 44 yrs
6.0
6.7
7.2
6.9
6.6
6.1
5.7
-0.3
45 to 64 yrs
5.2
5.6
6.1
6.2
5.5
5.3
5.0
-0.2
Aged 65+
2.6
2.9
3.0
3.5
3.1
3.2
4.6
2.0
Women
Aged 15+
6.7
6.9
7.1
7.2
6.9
6.5
6.1
-0.6
15 to 24 yrs
11.4
11.1
11.7
11.8
11.7
10.6
10.4
-1.0
25 to 44 yrs
6.0
6.3
6.7
6.8
6.4
6.0
5.6
-0.4
45 to 64 yrs
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.5
5.2
5.2
4.7
-0.6
Aged 65+
2.9
4.2
3.5
3.1
3.4
3.8
4.0
1.1
Newfoundland and Labrador
Both genders
Aged 15+
16.7
16.1
16.7
16.5
15.7
15.2
14.8
-1.9
15 to 24 yrs
25.5
24.7
22.6
23.7
22.4
21.4
22.9
-2.6
25 to 44 yrs
16.0
15.2
16.7
15.7
15.6
14.6
14.0
-2.0
45 to 64 yrs
14.0
13.2
14.1
14.6
13.1
13.7
12.9
-1.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Men
Aged 15+
17.7
17.9
18.1
17.9
17.1
16.3
16.6
-1.1
15 to 24 yrs
29.6
29.3
24.2
27.6
25.4
24.5
26.0
-3.6
25 to 44 yrs
16.5
17.1
18.7
17.5
16.9
15.6
16.2
-0.3
45 to 64 yrs
14.8
14.1
15.0
14.6
14.4
14.4
14.0
-0.8
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
15.6
14.0
15.1
14.9
14.2
14.0
12.9
-2.7
15 to 24 yrs
21.7
19.7
20.9
19.4
19.1
18.1
19.3
-2.4
25 to 44 yrs
15.4
13.3
14.6
13.8
14.2
13.6
12.0
-3.4
45 to 64 yrs
12.9
12.0
12.7
14.6
11.8
12.9
11.4
-1.5
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Prince Edward Island
Both genders
Aged 15+
12.1
11.9
12.0
11.0
11.3
10.8
11.0
-1.1
15 to 24 yrs
14.6
16.2
15.4
14.6
17.4
16.3
14.4
-0.2
25 to 44 yrs
12.1
11.2
11.5
10.5
10.7
9.5
10.8
-1.3
45 to 64 yrs
10.6
11.2
11.3
10.3
9.5
9.8
10.0
-0.6
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.1
11.1
Men
Aged 15+
13.2
12.7
13.0
11.8
12.0
12.5
12.9
-0.3
15 to 24 yrs
16.2
19.4
17.4
15.7
19.4
21.7
18.6
2.4
25 to 44 yrs
13.1
11.5
12.4
12.0
10.8
11.0
12.5
-0.6
45 to 64 yrs
11.6
10.9
11.5
10.2
9.9
10.2
10.5
-1.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
11.1
11.3
10.9
10.2
10.5
8.8
9.3
-1.8
15 to 24 yrs
12.7
14.3
13.2
13.4
15.4
10.4
10.0
-2.7
25 to 44 yrs
11.1
10.2
10.1
9.0
10.1
7.9
9.3
-1.8
45 to 64 yrs
9.5
11.6
10.3
10.4
9.0
9.4
9.4
-0.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Nova Scotia
Both genders
Aged 15+
9.1
9.7
9.6
9.1
8.8
8.4
7.9
-1.2
15 to 24 yrs
15.8
17.7
17.8
15.9
15.1
15.0
13.7
-2.1
25 to 44 yrs
8.5
8.7
8.5
8.0
8.1
7.7
7.1
-1.4
45 to 64 yrs
6.8
7.3
7.2
7.6
7.0
6.3
6.4
-0.4
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.9
0.0
0.0
Men
Aged 15+
9.8
10.3
10.6
10.2
9.6
9.2
9.4
-0.4
15 to 24 yrs
17.8
19.3
21.3
18.9
17.6
16.9
16.5
-1.3
25 to 44 yrs
9.2
9.3
9.6
9.0
8.5
8.6
8.1
-1.1
45 to 64 yrs
7.2
7.7
7.3
7.8
7.6
6.7
7.7
0.5
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
8.3
9.1
8.4
8.0
7.9
7.6
6.5
-1.8
15 to 24 yrs
13.7
16.1
14.3
12.5
12.2
13.1
10.9
-2.8
25 to 44 yrs
7.8
8.0
7.3
6.9
7.8
6.8
6.0
-1.8
45 to 64 yrs
6.3
7.0
7.2
7.2
6.2
5.9
5.0
-1.3
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
New Brunswick
Both genders
Aged 15+
10.0
11.1
10.2
10.3
9.8
9.7
8.8
-1.2
15 to 24 yrs
15.7
17.2
15.3
16.3
15.3
14.9
13.7
-2.0
25 to 44 yrs
9.0
9.8
9.1
9.6
9.3
8.8
7.7
-1.3
45 to 64 yrs
8.6
10.0
9.4
8.4
8.0
8.6
8.0
-0.6
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Men
Aged 15+
11.0
12.7
12.1
12.3
11.2
11.4
10.3
-0.7
15 to 24 yrs
19.0
20.9
18.8
19.8
18.2
18.2
16.2
-2.8
25 to 44 yrs
10.0
11.0
10.8
11.8
11.0
10.3
9.0
-1.0
45 to 64 yrs
8.9
11.5
11.0
9.9
8.8
10.0
9.5
0.6
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
8.8
9.4
8.1
8.0
8.3
7.8
7.1
-1.7
15 to 24 yrs
12.2
13.5
11.7
12.6
12.6
11.5
11.4
-0.8
25 to 44 yrs
8.1
8.6
7.2
7.3
7.7
7.3
6.4
-1.7
45 to 64 yrs
8.2
8.4
7.5
6.7
7.1
7.1
6.2
-2.0
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Quebec
Both genders
Aged 15+
8.5
8.8
8.6
9.1
8.5
8.3
8.0
-0.5
15 to 24 yrs
13.9
13.7
13.6
14.1
14.4
13.5
13.6
-0.3
25 to 44 yrs
7.6
8.1
7.8
8.5
7.9
7.9
7.3
-0.3
45 to 64 yrs
7.3
7.5
7.6
7.7
6.9
6.7
6.7
-0.6
Aged 65+
0.0
5.7
4.5
5.2
4.4
4.0
6.5
6.5
Men
Aged 15+
8.7
9.0
9.1
9.7
9.1
9.0
8.5
-0.2
15 to 24 yrs
14.8
15.0
15.1
16.2
16.5
15.7
15.0
0.2
25 to 44 yrs
8.0
8.4
8.1
8.8
8.5
8.4
7.7
-0.3
45 to 64 yrs
7.1
7.2
8.0
8.1
7.0
7.2
7.0
-0.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.6
4.8
0.0
7.3
7.3
Women
Aged 15+
8.2
8.5
8.1
8.5
7.8
7.5
7.5
-0.7
15 to 24 yrs
12.9
12.2
11.9
11.9
12.2
11.3
12.0
-0.9
25 to 44 yrs
7.1
7.7
7.5
8.1
7.2
7.3
6.9
-0.2
45 to 64 yrs
7.7
8.0
7.0
7.3
6.7
6.0
6.4
-1.3
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Ontario
Both genders
Aged 15+
5.8
6.3
7.1
6.9
6.8
6.6
6.3
0.5
15 to 24 yrs
11.9
12.5
13.9
14.4
14.1
13.9
13.1
1.2
25 to 44 yrs
4.9
5.6
6.5
6.0
6.0
5.6
5.5
0.6
45 to 64 yrs
4.1
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.6
4.8
4.3
0.2
Aged 65+
3.1
2.6
2.2
3.0
2.7
3.5
4.4
1.3
Men
Aged 15+
5.6
6.5
7.4
7.1
6.9
6.6
6.4
0.8
15 to 24 yrs
12.8
14.2
15.8
15.9
15.8
16.1
14.3
1.5
25 to 44 yrs
4.5
5.4
6.5
5.7
5.8
5.4
5.5
1.0
45 to 64 yrs
3.8
4.6
4.9
5.1
4.6
4.4
4.3
0.5
Aged 65+
2.9
2.5
2.3
3.1
2.1
3.0
4.7
1.8
Women
Aged 15+
6.0
6.2
6.8
6.8
6.6
6.5
6.2
0.2
15 to 24 yrs
10.8
10.8
11.9
12.8
12.4
11.6
12.0
1.2
25 to 44 yrs
5.3
5.7
6.5
6.4
6.2
5.8
5.6
0.3
45 to 64 yrs
4.4
4.5
4.8
4.4
4.5
5.3
4.3
-0.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
4.3
4.5
3.8
3.8
Manitoba
Both genders
Aged 15+
5.0
5.1
5.1
5.0
5.3
4.8
4.3
-0.7
15 to 24 yrs
9.4
9.8
10.1
9.5
10.9
9.7
8.8
-0.6
25 to 44 yrs
4.4
4.3
4.3
4.5
4.7
4.2
3.7
-0.7
45 to 64 yrs
3.5
3.5
3.7
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.0
-0.5
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Men
Aged 15+
5.1
5.1
5.5
5.3
5.6
5.1
4.5
-0.6
15 to 24 yrs
9.7
10.4
11.4
10.9
11.8
10.9
10.3
0.6
25 to 44 yrs
4.4
4.4
4.4
4.6
4.8
4.2
3.7
-0.7
45 to 64 yrs
3.8
3.3
4.1
3.4
3.7
3.5
2.8
-1.0
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
4.8
5.0
4.7
4.7
5.0
4.4
4.1
-0.7
15 to 24 yrs
9.1
9.1
8.7
8.2
10.0
8.3
7.2
-1.9
25 to 44 yrs
4.2
4.2
4.0
4.4
4.4
4.1
3.7
-0.5
45 to 64 yrs
3.2
3.9
3.2
3.2
3.2
2.9
3.2
0.0
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Saskatchewan
Both genders
Aged 15+
5.1
5.8
5.7
5.6
5.3
5.1
4.7
-0.4
15 to 24 yrs
10.6
11.5
10.8
10.7
10.4
10.1
8.6
-2.0
25 to 44 yrs
4.4
5.2
5.0
5.3
4.8
4.2
4.2
-0.2
45 to 64 yrs
3.6
3.7
4.1
3.6
3.5
3.8
3.4
-0.2
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Men
Aged 15+
5.7
6.2
6.3
6.3
5.9
5.5
4.9
-0.8
15 to 24 yrs
12.3
13.0
12.2
11.7
11.9
11.1
8.8
-3.5
25 to 44 yrs
4.8
5.5
5.6
5.9
5.2
4.4
4.2
-0.6
45 to 64 yrs
4.0
3.9
4.5
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.1
0.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
4.5
5.3
5.0
4.8
4.6
4.6
4.4
-0.1
15 to 24 yrs
8.6
9.5
9.2
9.5
8.7
8.9
8.3
-0.3
25 to 44 yrs
3.9
4.9
4.3
4.5
4.4
4.0
4.2
0.3
45 to 64 yrs
3.1
3.5
3.7
2.9
2.9
3.2
2.7
-0.4
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Alberta
Both genders
Aged 15+
5.0
4.6
5.3
5.1
4.6
3.9
3.4
-1.6
15 to 24 yrs
10.6
9.2
10.6
9.2
8.4
7.3
6.8
-3.8
25 to 44 yrs
4.0
4.1
4.5
4.4
4.2
3.3
2.8
-1.2
45 to 64 yrs
3.2
2.9
3.5
3.9
3.3
3.0
2.6
-0.6
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Men
Aged 15+
4.9
4.8
5.6
5.2
4.5
3.9
3.3
-1.6
15 to 24 yrs
11.3
10.5
11.9
10.2
9.1
8.0
7.5
-3.8
25 to 44 yrs
3.8
4.0
4.8
4.4
3.8
3.0
2.5
-1.3
45 to 64 yrs
3.3
2.9
3.5
4.0
3.1
3.1
2.4
-0.9
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Women
Aged 15+
5.0
4.5
4.9
4.9
4.7
4.0
3.6
-1.4
15 to 24 yrs
9.7
7.8
9.1
8.1
7.7
6.5
6.0
-3.7
25 to 44 yrs
4.3
4.1
4.1
4.5
4.6
3.8
3.2
-1.1
45 to 64 yrs
3.1
3.1
3.5
3.7
3.5
3.0
2.8
-0.3
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
British Columbia
Both genders
Aged 15+
7.1
7.7
8.5
8.0
7.2
5.9
4.8
-2.3
15 to 24 yrs
13.7
13.9
15.1
14.4
13.4
10.1
8.2
-5.5
25 to 44 yrs
6.5
7.4
8.0
7.3
6.3
5.2
4.2
-2.3
45 to 64 yrs
5.2
5.5
6.2
6.3
5.7
5.0
3.8
-1.4
Aged 65+
0.0
5.7
5.7
4.3
4.2
3.4
5.9
5.9
Men
Aged 15+
7.5
8.6
9.1
8.2
7.3
5.8
4.6
-2.9
15 to 24 yrs
15.4
16.1
17.0
16.0
14.4
10.9
9.2
-6.2
25 to 44 yrs
6.6
8.0
8.3
7.2
6.3
5.0
3.9
-2.7
45 to 64 yrs
5.6
6.1
6.9
6.5
5.6
4.8
3.5
-2.1
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.4
5.4
Women
Aged 15+
6.7
6.8
7.8
7.8
7.1
5.9
4.9
-1.8
15 to 24 yrs
11.8
11.5
13.1
12.7
12.5
9.4
7.3
-4.5
25 to 44 yrs
6.4
6.6
7.6
7.4
6.2
5.4
4.6
-1.8
45 to 64 yrs
4.8
4.7
5.5
6.1
5.7
5.1
4.1
-0.7
Aged 65+
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Source: Calculations by the Canadian Council
on Social Development using data from Statistics Canada's Labour
Force Historical Review,
2006.
The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) is Canada’s oldest non-profit research group. The Council works with partners and members across the country to measure, monitor and report on issues of social and economic security and well-being. A national, membership-based organization, the CCSD supports innovative and pro-active sharing, discussion and debate. Visit our website at www.ccsd.ca.
This and other fact sheets are available for download free of charge on our Stats & Facts subsite at www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/.
Canadian Council on Social Development,
190 O'Connor Street, Suite 100,
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2R3 Tel: (613) 236-8977, Fax: (613) 236-2750, Web: www.ccsd.ca, Email: council@ccsd.ca
