Section 8: Products and services

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A broad range of tabulated data compiled from the Labour Force Survey is contained in regular publications, on DVD-ROM, and CANSIM (Statistics Canada’s on-line electronic database). Analytical articles based on LFS data frequently appear in popular Statistics Canada flagship publications such as Perspectives on Labour and Income, Canadian Social Trends, and the Canadian Economic Observer. However, the wealth of information that can be extracted from the survey, and the variety of questions that can be addressed, are far too vast for regular publication. In order to meet particular analytical needs, and address issues of current interest, the survey provides a custom tabulation service on a cost-recovery basis. A public use microdata file is also available for clients wishing to do their own data extractions and analyses.

Catalogued publications

Monthly: Labour Force Information (catalogue no. 71-001-X)

This publication is available at 7 a.m. on the morning of each monthly release. It contains an analysis of the latest labour market developments in the context of recent trends, charts of major data series, and tables of indicators for main demographic groups, industries, provincial and sub-provincial areas.

The timeliness and analytical content of this publication contribute to its popularity and use by the media, government, research institutions, and others who need quick reference to the latest labour market trends. An Internet version available in PDF or HTML on the Statistics Canada website (www.statcan.gc.ca) ensures timely delivery.

The analytical commentary contained in this publication also appears electronically on the Statistics Canada website (www.statcan.gc.ca) in “The Daily”, then select “Labour Force Survey” under “Releases”. It is updated at 7:00 a.m. on the day of each monthly release.

Monthly and quarterly: Perspectives on Labour and Income (catalogue no. 75-001-X)

This publication brings together and analyzes a wide range of labour and income data. It covers topics such as youth in the labour market, pensions and retirement, work arrangements, education and training, and trends in the family income, to name a few. This publication also devotes sections to new products, surveys, research projects, conferences, and selected data from our extensive database of labour and income statistical indicators. This publication is available on paper (quarterly - Catalogue no. 75-001-X) and via the Internet (monthly - Catalogue no. 75-001-X).

Monthly: Microdata File (catalogue no. 71M0001X)

This public use microdata file contains non-aggregated data for a wide variety of variables collected from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). This product is for users who prefer to do their own analysis by focusing on specific subgroups in the population or by cross-classifying variables that are not in our catalogued products.

This file contains both personal characteristics for all individuals in the household and detailed labour force characteristics for household members 15 years of age and over. See section 3 of this publication for a detailed list of the variables in this product. These variables are available by province and for the three largest census metropolitan areas (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver). This is a monthly file, and is available going back to 1976.

Also included is the Labour Force Survey Microdata User Guide - which has been produced to facilitate the manipulation of the microdata file of the survey. This guide provides detailed information covering such topics as concepts and definitions; survey methodology; data collection; data processing; data quality; guidelines for tabulation, analysis and release; sampling variability tables and weighting. In addition, the questionnaire and record layouts for both the Public Use Microdata File (PUMF) and the Confidential Master File are included.

Annual: Labour Force Historical Review on DVD-ROM (71F0004X)

Introduced in 1995, this annual product contains thousands of cross-classified monthly and annual data series, spanning from 1976 to the latest complete calendar year. The software is easy to use and gives the user control over the content and time-period of each data view. Selected data can be easily printed or copied to other Windows-based software packages for further manipulation, or be displayed in many different types of charts. Most of the variables listed in Section 3 of this document are available in this DVD-ROM product. For more information, visit the following web address: www.statcan.gc.ca/ads-annonces/71f0004x/index-eng.htm.

Occasional: Aboriginal Peoples Living Off-reserve in Western Canada: Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (catalogue no. 71-587-X)

This paper provides information on Aboriginal employment and unemployment, Aboriginal youths and the impact of education on labour market performance in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Occasional: The Aboriginal Labour Force Analysis Series (catalogue no. 71-588-X)

This series of analytical reports provides an overview of the labour market conditions among the Aboriginal off-reserve populations, based on estimates from the Labour Force Survey. These reports examine the Aboriginal labour force characteristics by Aboriginal identity, as well as diverse socio-economic and employment characteristics.

Occasional: The Immigrant Labour Force Analysis Series (catalogue no. 71-606-X)

This series of analytical reports provides an overview of the Canadian labour market experiences of immigrants to Canada, based on data from the Labour Force Survey. These reports examine the labour force characteristics of immigrants, by reporting on employment and unemployment at the Canada level, for the provinces and large metropolitan areas. They also provide more detailed analysis by region of birth, as well as in-depth analysis of other specific aspects of the immigrant labour market.

Occasional: The Canadian Labour Market at a Glance (catalogue no. 71-222-X)

This online publication provides an overview of a host of labour market topics, illustrated by charts. Among these topics: labour market trends; employment by industry; trends in workplace training; reasons workers select part-time jobs; absenteeism rates; wages and income; international comparisons; labour markets in provinces and census metropolitan areas; and the labour market for immigrants and Aboriginal people.

Occasional: Methodology of the Canadian Labour Force Survey (catalogue no. 71-526-X)

This publication offers an in-depth look at the methodological and operational aspects of the LFS, covering stratification, sampling, survey operations, weighting, estimation and data quality. This document would be of interest to those who would like more in-depth methodological information on the Labour Force Survey than provided by the Guide to the Labour Force Survey.

CANSIM

A large selection of high-demand LFS monthly and annual average time series is available from CANSIM, Statistics Canada’s electronic online database (http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/). Over 90 tables (tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0100.) or 1.4 million series are updated at the time of release (by 7:00 a.m. on the day of each monthly release) and revised when appropriate.

Custom tabulations

Custom tabulations can be arranged on an ad hoc or regular basis. This service enables users to specify tables and time series to meet their own requirements. For example, users may wish to have labour force estimates for age groups or educational levels that differ from those used in LFS publications. Subject matter and tabulation expertise is also provided to ensure that the customized data package is accurate and appropriate.

Free data on the Internet

Each month, on the release day of LFS data, selected tables (in HTML) are updated on the Statistics Canada website www.statcan.gc.ca, under “Summary tables”, then select “Labour”.

For inquiries on any of these products and services, contact our toll-free phone number at 1 866 873-8788 or e-mail us at labour@statcan.gc.ca.

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