Collapsed Classification of Labour Force Status

This classification was approved as a departmental standard on June 21, 2010.

1

Employed

This category includes persons who, during the reference period:

(a) Did any work at all at a job or business, that is, paid work in the context of an employer-employee relationship, or self-employment. It also includes persons who did unpaid family work, which is defined as unpaid work contributing directly to the operation of a farm, business or professional practice owned and operated by a related member of the same household; or

(b) Had a job but were not at work due to factors such as their own illness or disability, personal or family responsibilities, vacation or a labour dispute. This category excludes persons not at work because they were on layoff or between casual jobs, and those who did not then have a job (even if they had a job to start at a future date).

2

Unemployed

This category includes persons who during the reference period:

• Were without work but had looked for work in the past four weeks ending with the reference period and were available for work; or
• Were on temporary layoff due to business conditions and were available for work; or
• Were without work, had a job to start within four weeks from the reference period and were available for work.

Usage Note for Unemployed:

The Labour Force Survey uses more questions to determine temporary layoff status and availability for work than other Statistics Canada surveys since the main objective of the survey is to classify the working-age population into three groups (employed, unemployed and not in the labour force) and to report on them on a monthly basis.

3

Not in labour force

This category refers to persons who were neither employed nor unemployed during the reference period. This includes persons who, during the reference period were either unable to work or unavailable for work. It also includes persons who were without work and who had neither actively looked for work in the past four weeks nor had a job to start within four weeks of the reference period.