View the most recent version.Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
The Daily. Monday, April 9, 2001
This publication, Networked Canada, provides the first-ever comprehensive statistical profile of Canada's rapidly evolving information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
Produced under Statistics Canada's Connectedness program, it examines the growth and performance of the ICT sector on the basis of such variables as economic output, employment, exports, imports, revenues and research and development. It also examines individual ICTs as commodities, analyzing their penetration and use across all economic sectors: households, businesses and governments, including education.
In 1999, the sector contributed $43.3 billion to Canada's gross domestic product (GDP), not including ICT wholesaling, which accounted for 6.9% of business sector GDP. Economic output in the ICT sector increased by a remarkable 78.3% between 1993 and 1999. This was almost three times the growth rate of the total business sector (+27.8%), and more than three times the growth in the total economy (+21.8%).
The ICT sector employed 421,000 people in 1998, 3.5% of economy-wide employment. Employment between 1993 and 1998 increased 23.0%, more than twice the growth rate of the entire economy (+10.0%).
The sector's revenues reached $78.8 billion in 1998 (not including ICT wholesaling), or 4.4% of total industry revenues.
Trade also grew at a remarkable pace, as both imports and exports more than doubled between 1993 and 1999. In 1999, ICT exports of goods and services totalled $30.3 billion, accounting for 8.0% of total exports. Imports reached $53.8 billion, accounting for 15.4% of the total. The ICT sector's spending on research and development reached $4.2 billion in 1998, accounting for 46.0% of total private sector spending on research and development.
Networked Canada, 1993 to 1999 (56-504-XIE, $38) is now available. See How to order products.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Heidi Ertl (613-951-1891) or George Sciadas (613-951-6389), Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.