This table contain estimates for the following labour force survey (LFS) variables: annual average, by sex and age. The data is available by province, economic region and census metropolitan area.
As of January 2021, these estimates are based on population counts from the 2016 Census. Previous releases were based on the 2011 Census. See the Notes below or this link for more detail.
Revisions to the Labour Force Survey
On January 30, 2023, revised LFS data were released, resulting in minor changes to recent and historical LFS data.
There are three main components to the revision:
- All occupation data, starting in January 1987, were revised to use the latest standard, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.
- Enhancements to the LFS imputation system were implemented retroactively back to January 2006.
- The standard annual revision to seasonal adjustment factors were implemented over a longer time span, to account for changes in estimates resulting from the NOC update and imputation enhancements.
To ensure respondent's confidentiality, detailed data are suppressed. Data for Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia are suppressed if the estimate is below 1,500, for Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, if the estimate is below 500, and for Prince Edward Island, under 200. For suppression levels within census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and economic regions (ERs), use the respective provincial suppression levels above.
For approximate quality indicators of the estimates, see tables 7.1 or 7.2 in the Guide to the Labour Force Survey .
2021 Revisions of the Labour Force Survey (LFS)
Population rebasing: Until December 2020, labour force estimates were based on population counts from the 2011 Census of Population. As of January 2021, the estimates have been adjusted to reflect population counts from the 2016 Census. This revision had minor impacts on the LFS estimates, while rates of unemployment, employment and labour force participation were essentially unchanged. Given the minimal changes to the estimates, only revisions back to 2006 were necessary. However, revisions for seasonal adjustment were applied back to 2002 and for trend-line series back to 2001.
Geographic boundaries: Census metropolitan areas (CMAs), economic regions (ERs) and census agglomerations (CAs) are now based on 2016 Census boundaries. Two new CMAs were added (Belleville, Ontario and Lethbridge, Alberta). There is no change to the Employment Insurance Economic Regions (EIERs).
Industry and occupation classification update: The LFS now uses the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017 V3.0 and the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 V1.3. The historical series was revised back to 1987. These changes do not impact any published data tables on the website, only the microdata.
Please visit this page for more information on the 2021 Revisions of the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
Users who wish to use the old LFS tables based on the 2011 Census of Population can request them from the CDP team via email (information@communitydata.ca).