An Overview of the Canadian Labour Market

ECO339H

Department of Economics
University of Toronto

2023/24

1
Economic Activity: Nominal GDP Growth 1982-2021

Notes: Source CANSIM database

2
Labour Market Participation: Participation Rates by Sex and Age, Canada
1976-2022

Notes: Source CANSIM database

3
Unemployment: Unemployment Rates by Sex and Age, Canada 1976-2022

Notes: Source CANSIM database.

4
Employment Weekly Hours: Average Hours 1976-2022

Notes: Source CANSIM database.

5
Part Time Employment Rates by Sex and Age, Canada 1976-2022

Notes: Source CANSIM database.

6
Hourly Wages: Average Wages Including Overtime (2002 $) 1983-2022, All
Workers

Notes: Source CANSIM database. RW1 uses the 1980 industrial codes and RW2 uses the NAICS.

7
Hourly Wages: Average Wages (2002 $) 1997-2019, Workers aged 15+ by sex
and full time part time status

Notes: Source CANSIM database.

8
Minimum Wages

Minimum Wages by Province (2023)

Province Minimum Wage Effective Date

Newfoundland 15.00 October 1, 2023
Prince Edward Island 15.00 April 1, 2023
Nova Scotia 15.00 April 1, 2023
New Brunswick 14.75 April 1, 2023
Quebec 15.25 May 1, 2023
Ontario 16.55 October 1, 2023
Manitoba 15.30 October 1, 2023
Saskatchewan 14.00 October 1, 2023
Alberta 15.00 October 1, 2018
British Columbia 16.75 June 1, 2023

Source: http://srv116.services.gc.ca/dimt-wid/sm-mw/rpt2.aspx?GoCTemplateCulture=en-CA

9
Canadian “Average” (Employment Weighted) Minimum Wage as Fraction of
Average Wage 1983-2021

Notes: Source HRDC and CANSIM database. MW1 uses the 1980 industrial codes and MW2 uses the NAICS.

10
Low Income Percentage of Persons in indicated Family Type, 1976-2021

Notes: Source CANSIM database.

11
The Gender Pay Gap, 1981-2019
Baker and Drolet Morissette et al. CANSIM CANSIM
(2010) (2013) v103452286, v25698190
v103452290
Canada FT Canada FT Canada FT Canada Full
Workers Workers Workers Year Full Time
Aged 17-64 Aged 17-64 Aged 15+ Workers Aged
15+
Wages Wages Wages Earnings
1981 0.77 0.77 0.64
1982 0.64
1983 0.65
1984 0.74 0.74 0.65
1985 0.65
1986 0.74 0.74 0.66
1987 0.75 0.75 0.66
1988 0.76 0.76 0.65
1989 0.76 0.76 0.66
1990 0.77 0.77 0.67
1991 0.69
1992 0.70
1993 0.80 0.73
1994 0.82 0.70
1995 0.81 0.73
1996 0.83 0.73
1997 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.70
1998 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.72
1999 0.82 0.82 0.83 0.68
2000 0.82 0.82 0.82 0.71
2001 0.82 0.82 0.82 0.70
2002 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.70
2003 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.70
2004 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.70
2005 0.85 0.85 0.86 0.71
2006 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.72
2007 0.86 0.86 0.85 0.71
2008 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.71
2009 0.87 0.87 0.74
2010 0.87 0.87 0.74
2011 0.87 0.88 0.72
2012 0.88 0.74*
2013 0.88 0.74
2014 0.88 0.74
2015 0.88 0.74
2016 0.89 0.75
2017 0.89 0.75
2018 0.89 0.75
2019 0.90
2020 0.91
2021 0.84
2022 0.90

Sources: Baker, Michael and Marie Drolet, “A New View of the Male/Female Pay Gap”, Canadian Public
Policy//Analyse de Politiques, 36(4) 2010, 429–464, Morissette, Rene, Garnett Picot and Yuqian Lu, “The Evolution
of Canadian Wages over the Last Three Decades”, Statistics Canada, Social Analysis Division, Catalogue no.
11F0019M —No. 347, 2013, CANSIM database (wage series is ratio of (simple) annual averages of monthly wages
by sex). Starting in 2012 the earnings ratio is based on CANSIM variables v107657710 and v107657761.

12
Immigration
Annual Immigration as a Percentage of Population 1971-2021

Notes: Source CANSIM database.

13
The Returns to Education

Reproduced from Morissette, Rene, Garnett Picot and Yuqian Lu, “The Evolution of Canadian Wages
over the Last Three Decades”, Statistics Canada, Social Analysis Division, Catalogue no. 11F0019M —
No. 347, 2013

14
Reproduced from Morissette, Rene, Garnett Picot and Yuqian Lu, “The Evolution of Canadian Wages
over the Last Three Decades”, Statistics Canada, Social Analysis Division, Catalogue no. 11F0019M —
No. 347, 2013

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