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The Daily. Wednesday, December 13, 2000
The collection and publication of union statistics under the Corporations and labour unions returns act (CALURA) Part II ended in 1995 with the repeal of the act. Starting in 1997, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) has been collecting monthly union data, which offer a variety of analytical possibilities unavailable in the CALURA series.
To preserve the historical CALURA data in a readily accessible form and to facilitate its use with post-1996 LFS union data, three sets of data matrices are now available on CANSIM.
The first set, referred to as the unrevised series, simply replicates the previously published union density estimates (unionization rates) using the 1980 Standard Industry Classification (1980 SIC) and CALURA definitions and concepts applicable at the time of original publication. For example, working owners of incorporated firms were included in the denominator used for the calculation of the rates. The CANSIM matrices for this set are 3517 to 3727 inclusive, and cover the years 1976 to 1995.
The second set of data, referred to as the revised series, is primarily aimed at facilitating the use of pre-1996 CALURA and post-1996 LFS union data. They are labelled revised because they are recalculations of CALURA estimates based on the 1980 SIC, taking into account two changes. One is the use of employees only in the denominator (working owners of incorporated firms are excluded from the denominator, in conformity with LFS practices). The other is that the employment denominators reflect the most recent historically revised LFS estimates. The CANSIM matrices for this set are 3515, 3516, 3529, 3530, 3532 and 3533. This set covers 1976 to 1995.
In the third set, union data from the revised series are converted to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), in line with current LFS industry reporting practices. The CANSIM matrices for this third set are 3528, 3531 and 3534, and span the years 1987 to 1995.
The numerators (the number of union members) used in all three sets of matrices come from CALURA. They are identical for the first and second sets, both of which use the 1980 SIC, but in the third set they reflect the conversion from the 1980 SIC to NAICS.
Despite the above adjustments, the move from CALURA to the LFS as a source for union data constitutes a break in the time series. This is due primarily to differences in how union membership estimates are arrived at by the two data sources. For details about these differences, see Historical CALURA union data on CANSIM: A note to users.
For more information, including the issue of comparing CALURA and LFS union data, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of these series, contact Ernest B. Akyeampong, (613-951-4624), Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division, or Diane Galarneau, (613-951-4626), Labour Statistics Division. For post-1996 LFS data, contact Marc Lévesque (613-951-2793), Labour Statistics Division.