Source, data history and definitions

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This report draws on data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to examine the labour market outcomes of Aboriginal populations living off-reserve for all ten provinces. 2009 marks the third year for which the Aboriginal identity questions were extended to all provinces in the LFS. 1 

Although the LFS is a monthly survey, this analysis is based on annual data, which is more reliable for small populations such as the Aboriginal population. Further, the Atlantic Provinces were grouped together for more reliable estimates. In spite of this, there are still some estimates, particularly those of unemployment rates that cannot be reported since they do not meet minimum reliability criteria.

Exclusion of populations living in the territories and on reserves

LFS estimates for the territories are not included in the national totals. Although the LFS produces data on the territories, a different methodology is used than that for the provinces.

The LFS does not include the population living on Indian reserves and settlements. All data on the Aboriginal population in this report therefore reflect the situation of people living in the ten provinces.

Aboriginal identities

The Aboriginal population can be defined in various ways depending on the perspective and needs of the data user.

The Labour Force Survey measures the Aboriginal identity. A person has an Aboriginal identity if he or she reports identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, for example, North American Indian, Métis or Inuit. This is based on the individual's own perception of his/her Aboriginal identity. "Aboriginal identity" is not to be confused with "Aboriginal ancestry", another concept measured by the Census but not the LFS. Moreover, the LFS Aboriginal identity concept differs from the Aboriginal identity concept used in the Census, since Census uses more questions to define the identity. For more information, see the publication entitled How Statistics Canada Identifies Aboriginal Peoples /pub/12-592-x/12-592-x2007001-eng.htm.

In this report, data for North American Indians, Métis and Inuit include only those who reported a single Aboriginal identity.

Although Inuit are included in the total for Aboriginal people, a large proportion are not covered by this report because they live in the territories, primarily Nunavut (15,300) and the Northwest Territories (2,900). However, according to the 2006 Census, 44% of Inuit were living in the provinces, mainly Quebec (6,900), Newfoundland and Labrador (3,600), Ontario (1,345) and Alberta (1,100).

Comparison between LFS and Census:

Period covered and speed of release

The annual LFS estimates on Aboriginal people are available for every year, whereas the Census is conducted every five years. Another difference is that LFS estimates are representative of the entire year (12 reference weeks), whereas census estimates relate to only a single week in May. The time that elapses between the collection and the release of the data is also shorter for the LFS, making it possible to draw a very current picture of the labour market for Aboriginal populations.

Population covered

The population studied is more limited in the LFS, since reserves are excluded, which constitutes an especially important difference in the case of data on Aboriginal people. Also, the estimates for the territories are not included in the national estimates.

Range of statistics

The census data undeniably provide a wider range of data than the LFS. Also, the Census defines the Aboriginal population in various ways, whereas the LFS includes only one question measuring Aboriginal identity.

Comparability of estimates

Data from the LFS and the Census are not directly comparable, since the survey concepts and methods are different. For a more complete description of the differences, see the document "Differences between the LFS and Census estimates on the labour component, July 2008", available on request at Labour Statistics Division.

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