"What's New" in services data and analysis

Studies and statistical information released from December 2004 to May 2005 pertaining to the service industries.

Recently released Industry Reports
Recently released analytical studies

Recently released Industry Reports

Business Conditions Survey: Traveller accommodation industries — Second quarter 2005

Canada's hotel operators are relatively optimistic about their expectations for business this spring, according to results from the first-ever Business Conditions Survey on the travel accommodation industry. The survey of just under 1,400 businesses, mostly hotels, was conducted in April to assess their outlook about key indicators compared to the same period last year. Some of these key indicators include bookings, occupancy rates, room rates and hours worked by employees. In general, hotel operators expect room rates to rise in the second quarter after having experienced some erosion in rates during the last few years. See related article from The Daily

Travel arrangement services — 2003

The travel arrangement services industry, which is composed primarily of two groups (tour operators and travel agencies), faced a series of adverse conditions in 2003 including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the war in Iraq.

Despite operating revenues increasing 4.7% to $7.6 billion, the travel arrangement services industry recorded zero profits in 2003 — down from a before-tax operating profit margin of 2.2% in 2002. Most of the revenue growth can be attributed to firms in the tour operating industry. See related article from The Daily

Food services and drinking places — 2003

The effects of some domestic and international events such as SARS, the August power outage, mad cow disease and the war in Iraq, were felt by the food service and drinking places industry in 2003. Total operating revenues for the food services and drinking places industries slipped by 0.3% in 2003 to $35.4 billion from $35.5 billion. See related article from The Daily

Traveller accommodation services — 2003 (preliminary)

The year 2003 was one of the worst experienced by the Canadian tourism industry. Tourism spending in Canada decreased by 2.7% in 2003 compared with a year earlier. Air transportation (-6.2%) and accommodation (-5.2%) were amongst the hardest hit. The number of foreign tourists travelling to Canada was down 13.3% in 2003 compared with a year earlier. The number of trips made by Canadians within the country also decreased (-8.3%) for the first time in the last five years. See related article from The Daily

Other Service Industry Reports based on 2003 results

Accounting and bookkeeping services

Advertising and related services

Architectural services

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Automotive equipment rental and leasing

Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and leasing

Consumer goods rentals

Employment services

Engineering services

Internet service providers

Management, scientific and technical consulting services

Newspaper publishers

Personal services industry

Real estate agents, brokers, appraisers and other real estate activities

Real estate rental and leasing and property management industries

Software development and computer services

Specialized design

Surveying and mapping services

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Recently released analytical studies

Who's calling at dinner time? — 1987 to 2004

Business support services, of which telephone call centres are a major component, recorded unparalleled growth during the past two decades as a result of big advances in information and telecommunications technology and new modes of sales and service delivery. According to a new study, employment in this industry jumped more than fivefold (447%), from 20,000 to 112,000 between 1987 and 2004. This far exceeded the 37% increase in all service industries and the 29% rise in overall employment. See related article from The Daily

Recent changes in the labour market — 1991 to 2004

Labour demand since 2000 has been in many ways the reverse of the 1990s, shifting from high-tech to housing and resources, according to a new assessment of changes in Canada's labour market. See related article from The Daily

Labour productivity, hourly compensation and unit labour cost — 2004 and fourth quarter 2004

In 2004, Canadian businesses recorded their worst performance in labour productivity growth in eight years as both economic activity, hit by the rising Canadian dollar, and the number of hours worked increased in tandem for a second year in a row. Productivity growth in Canadian businesses was a flat 0.0% last year. See related article from The Daily

Use of knowledge management in innovative business units — 2003

Business units in selected service industries that are considered innovators believe that a key factor in their success is the way they manage their knowledge, according to a new study. This study, which analysed data from the 2003 Survey of Innovation in selected service industries, suggested that the adoption of management practices by business units in selected services plays a role in the innovation process. See related article from The Daily

Business Dynamics in Canada — 1991 to 2001

Of all firms that were created during the 1990s, roughly one-quarter ceased to operate within the first two years according to a new report that analyzes the impact of economic developments on business dynamics during the past decade. Just over one-third of these firms survived five years or more, and only one-fifth were still in operation after 10 years. See related article from The Daily

Productivity growth by industry — 1997 to 2003

Despite a slowdown in economic activity since 2000, productivity growth of Canadian businesses grew 1.5% annually during the 2000 to 2003 period. Although less rapid than the 2.8% advance during the 1997 to 2000 period, this performance is comparable with the 1.6% average posted during the last business cycle from 1988 to 2000.

From 2000 to 2003, a period that was characterized by an economic slowdown, several industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and mining extraction and oil and gas experienced a productivity slowdown compared with their performance during 1997 to 2000, a period marked by rapid economic growth. In contrast, service industries such as wholesale, retail, transportation, information and financial services and real estate have generated the bulk of the business sector productivity gains during the 2000 to 2003 period. See related article from The Daily