JVS Replacement Source of Data

Replacement Source of Data

The November 2019 release of data from the Job Vacancy Statistics (JVS) program for the 3 months ending August 2019 is the last release from this program. In 2009, the lack of job vacancy statistics in Canada was identified as one of the key data gaps for labour market information by the Advisory Panel on Labour Market Information. To address this gap in a timely and cost-effective manner, the monthly Business Payroll Survey (BPS) began collecting in 2011 for the Job Vacancy Survey (JVS). The first data was released in January 2012.

An increasing demand for more granular information with expanded variables led to the development of a dedicated job vacancy survey – the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS). The JVWS collects and disseminates data on the number of job vacancies by occupation and economic region as well as other characteristics of vacant positions. The JVWS has been producing quarterly data on the prevalence, location and attributes of job vacancies since 2015.

After consultations with key users on these two surveys, the JVS will be discontinued with the August 2019 reference period to be released on November 28, 2019. Collecting job vacancy data through one program (JVWS) has the benefit of reducing costs, duplication of work and response burden. JVWS remains the most comprehensive source of information on job vacancies from Statistics Canada.

To assist users in transitioning from the JVS program to the JVWS program, a table detailing the concordance between the 2 programs (Table 1) as well as a comparison of the key elements of each program (Table 2) are provided below. Having data from the two programs for several years (from 2015Q1 to 2019Q3), allows users to understand the behaviour and relationship of the two series under varying economic and labour market conditions.

For further information, please contact Client Services (toll-free: 1-866-873-8788, statcan.labour-travail.statcan@statcan.gc.ca), Centre for Labour Market Information, Statistics Canada

Table 1. Concordance between the JVWS and the JVS data tables.
Variable JVWS Table JVS TableFootnote 2
Number of job vacancies 14-10-0326-01 (285-0002) 14-10-0224-01 (284-0001), 14-10-0226-01 (284-0003)
Labour demand 14-10-0326-01 (285-0002) 14-10-0224-01 (284-0001)
Job vacancy rate 14-10-0326-01 (285-0002) 14-10-0224-01 (284-0001)
Number of unemployedFootnote 1 14-10-0022-01 (282-0007) 14-10-0226-01 (284-0003)
Unemployment-to-job vacancies ratioFootnote 1 14-10-0022-01 (282-0007), 14-10-0326-01 (285-0002) 14-10-0226-01 (284-0003)
Footnote 1

The Labour Force Survey is the source for the number of unemployed.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

In addition to 14-10-0224-01 and 14-10-0226-01, JVS has 2 corresponding annual tables (14-10-0225-01 and 14-10-0227-01).

Return to first footnote 2 referrer
Table 2. Comparison of the JVWS and the JVS
  JVWS JVS
Population All businesses with one employee or more, excluding:
  • private household services
  • religious organizations
  • provincial, territorial and federal public administration
  • international and other extraterritorial public administration.
 All businesses, excluding:
  • private household services
  • religious organizations
  • provincial, territorial and federal public administration
  • international and other extraterritorial public administration
  • businesses primarily involved in agriculture, fishing and trapping.
Sample size Approximately 100,000 locations quarterly (about 33,000 per month). Approximately 15,000 establishments monthly, through the Business Payrolls Survey (BPS)..
Sampling unit Location level:
  • e.g., the individual business location (store or restaurant) is generally surveyed.
 Establishment level (an establishment can represent a group of locations):
  • e.g., for a large retailer or restaurant chain, the head office is generally surveyed.
Respondents JVWS respondents are more likely to be directly responsible for human resources. BPS respondents are more likely to be responsible for the payroll of the company.
Job vacancy concept The number of vacant jobs on the first day of the month and those that will become vacant during the month. A job is vacant if it meets three conditions:
  • it is vacant on the reference date (first day of the month) or will become vacant during the month
  • there are tasks to be carried out during the month for the job in question
  • the employer is actively recruiting outside the organization to fill the job.
 The number of vacant jobs on the last day of the month, since this is the reference period of the supplementary questions on vacant positions of the Business Payrolls Survey. A job is vacant if it meets three conditions:
  • a specific position exists
  • work could start within 30 days
  • the employer is actively seeking a worker from outside the organization to fill the position.
Sources: Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (5217) and Job Vacancy Statistics (5202).
Table 3. Comparison of the number of job vacancies and job vacancy rates from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey and Job Vacancy Statistics, by province and territory, quarters of 2015 - 2019
  Job Vacancy and Wage Survey Job Vacancy Statistics
Job vacancies Job vacancy rate Job vacancies Job vacancy rate
2015Q1 thousands % thousands %
Canada 408.1 2.7% 221.2 1.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador 0.0 0.0% 1.7 0.8%
Prince Edward Island 0.0 0.0% 1.0 1.7%
Nova Scotia 9.2 2.4% 5.1 1.3%
New Brunswick 4.9 1.7% 3.1 1.1%
Quebec 60.5 1.8% 50.9 1.5%
Ontario 153.4 2.6% 71.9 1.2%
Manitoba 14.2 2.5% 8.1 1.4%
Saskatchewan 14.2 3.0% 7.7 1.6%
Alberta 76.9 3.7% 35.7 1.7%
BC 68.0 3.4% 35.2 1.7%
Yukon 0.0 0.0% 0.2 1.1%
Northwest Territories 0.0 0.0% 0.5 1.9%
Nunavut 0.0 0.0% 0.1 0.7%
2015Q2 thousands % thousands %
Canada 451.9 2.9% 248.8 1.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador 5.3 2.6% 3.0 1.4%
Prince Edward Island 1.8 3.1% 1.2 1.9%
Nova Scotia 11.7 3.0% 5.4 1.4%
New Brunswick 10.1 3.5% 2.6 0.9%
Quebec 70.3 2.1% 54.5 1.6%
Ontario 178.4 3.0% 91.5 1.5%
Manitoba 14.5 2.5% 8.0 1.4%
Saskatchewan 15.5 3.2% 6.8 1.4%
Alberta 72.3 3.5% 35.1 1.7%
BC 69.8 3.4% 39.8 1.9%
Yukon 0.9 5.2% 0.3 1.7%
Northwest Territories 1.0 4.3% 0.5 1.8%
Nunavut 0.4 3.7% 0.2 1.2%
2015Q3 thousands % thousands %
Canada 407.9 2.6% 234.0 1.5%
Newfoundland and Labrador 5.4 2.4% 2.9 1.3%
Prince Edward Island 1.6 2.5% 1.4 2.1%
Nova Scotia 11.5 2.8% 5.2 1.3%
New Brunswick 7.7 2.5% 4.4 1.4%
Quebec 61.4 1.8% 48.7 1.4%
Ontario 155.8 2.6% 79.7 1.3%
Manitoba 13.2 2.3% 7.1 1.2%
Saskatchewan 11.9 2.5% 6.7 1.4%
Alberta 64.5 3.2% 31.4 1.5%
BC 73.0 3.5% 45.2 2.2%
Yukon 0.7 4.1% 0.5 2.3%
Northwest Territories 0.8 3.5% 0.6 2.1%
Nunavut 0.5 4.2% 0.1 0.8%
2015Q4 thousands % thousands %
Canada 358.8 2.3% 229.4 1.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador 4.4 2.1% 2.5 1.1%
Prince Edward Island 1.6 2.6% 0.7 1.1%
Nova Scotia 8.4 2.1% 4.4 1.1%
New Brunswick 6.6 2.2% 3.2 1.0%
Quebec 52.2 1.5% 48.7 1.4%
Ontario 151.6 2.5% 82.8 1.4%
Manitoba 11.0 1.9% 8.8 1.5%
Saskatchewan 10.7 2.2% 5.3 1.1%
Alberta 50.8 2.5% 35.2 1.7%
BC 60.0 2.9% 36.8 1.8%
Yukon 0.5 2.7% 0.2 1.1%
Northwest Territories 0.7 2.9% 0.6 2.3%
Nunavut 0.3 2.8% 0.1 0.9%
2016Q1 thousands % thousands %
Canada 330.2 2.2% 180.5 1.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.4 1.7% 2.0 1.0%
Prince Edward Island 0.8 1.4% 0.5 0.9%
Nova Scotia 7.9 2.1% 4.1 1.0%
New Brunswick 4.8 1.7% 2.7 0.9%
Quebec 52.9 1.6% 37.7 1.1%
Ontario 138.5 2.3% 57.3 0.9%
Manitoba 10.5 1.8% 8.1 1.4%
Saskatchewan 9.4 2.0% 5.1 1.1%
Alberta 39.2 2.0% 25.9 1.3%
BC 61.5 3.0% 36.2 1.7%
Yukon 0.5 3.2% 0.3 1.7%
Northwest Territories 0.7 3.0% 0.4 1.6%
Nunavut 0.3 2.9% 0.1 0.5%
2016Q2 thousands % thousands %
Canada 391.2 2.5% 217.5 1.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.9 1.9% 1.7 0.8%
Prince Edward Island 1.7 2.9% 0.7 1.2%
Nova Scotia 8.7 2.3% 5.0 1.3%
New Brunswick 6.8 2.4% 4.1 1.4%
Quebec 67.0 2.0% 45.7 1.3%
Ontario 165.5 2.7% 74.9 1.2%
Manitoba 11.6 2.0% 8.2 1.4%
Saskatchewan 9.9 2.1% 6.7 1.4%
Alberta 42.4 2.2% 27.0 1.4%
BC 72.2 3.4% 42.6 2.0%
Yukon 0.7 4.1% 0.4 1.7%
Northwest Territories 0.6 2.6% 0.3 1.3%
Nunavut 0.3 3.0% 0.2 1.1%
2016Q3 thousands % thousands %
Canada 404.9 2.6% 219.6 1.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador 4.0 1.9% 1.8 0.8%
Prince Edward Island 1.3 2.0% 0.9 1.4%
Nova Scotia 9.2 2.3% 5.3 1.3%
New Brunswick 6.9 2.3% 3.6 1.1%
Quebec 66.8 1.9% 38.8 1.1%
Ontario 173.5 2.8% 86.0 1.4%
Manitoba 11.3 1.9% 8.3 1.4%
Saskatchewan 9.2 2.0% 6.0 1.3%
Alberta 44.1 2.3% 27.7 1.4%
BC 77.0 3.6% 40.3 1.9%
Yukon 0.5 2.9% 0.3 1.2%
Northwest Territories 0.6 2.5% 0.4 1.3%
Nunavut 0.4 3.3% 0.1 0.9%
2016Q4 thousands % thousands %
Canada 381.0 2.4% 224.7 1.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.2 1.5% 1.7 0.8%
Prince Edward Island 1.0 1.6% 0.7 1.1%
Nova Scotia 8.5 2.1% 4.0 1.0%
New Brunswick 6.2 2.1% 3.5 1.1%
Quebec 63.4 1.8% 45.2 1.3%
Ontario 162.4 2.6% 93.5 1.5%
Manitoba 11.2 1.9% 7.3 1.2%
Saskatchewan 8.4 1.8% 5.7 1.2%
Alberta 42.4 2.2% 24.2 1.2%
BC 72.8 3.4% 38.2 1.8%
Yukon 0.6 3.2% 0.2 1.1%
Northwest Territories 0.5 2.4% 0.4 1.3%
Nunavut 0.2 2.0% 0.1 0.8%
2017Q1 thousands % thousands %
Canada 387.1 2.5% 211.2 1.3%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.0 1.5% 1.5 0.7%
Prince Edward Island 1.1 2.0% 0.9 1.5%
Nova Scotia 7.4 1.9% 3.5 0.9%
New Brunswick 5.7 2.0% 2.9 1.0%
Quebec 67.7 2.0% 43.6 1.2%
Ontario 171.1 2.8% 80.7 1.3%
Manitoba 10.6 1.8% 7.3 1.2%
Saskatchewan 8.5 1.8% 6.4 1.4%
Alberta 42.6 2.2% 26.1 1.3%
BC 68.2 3.2% 37.4 1.7%
Yukon 0.4 2.6% 0.2 1.0%
Northwest Territories 0.5 2.5% 0.5 1.8%
Nunavut 0.3 2.3% 0.1 0.6%
2017Q2 thousands % thousands %
Canada 459.7 2.9% 261.1 1.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador 4.0 2.0% 2.4 1.1%
Prince Edward Island 2.3 3.7% 1.1 1.7%
Nova Scotia 10.4 2.7% 5.2 1.3%
New Brunswick 8.9 3.0% 3.2 1.1%
Quebec 83.8 2.4% 53.9 1.5%
Ontario 185.7 3.0% 109.4 1.8%
Manitoba 14.8 2.5% 7.4 1.2%
Saskatchewan 11.3 2.4% 6.7 1.4%
Alberta 50.9 2.6% 28.6 1.5%
BC 85.8 4.0% 42.4 2.0%
Yukon 0.8 4.8% 0.4 1.8%
Northwest Territories 0.7 3.0% 0.3 1.2%
Nunavut 0.3 3.0% 0.2 1.2%
2017Q3 thousands % thousands %
Canada 467.4 2.9% 277.2 1.7%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.5 1.6% 2.3 1.0%
Prince Edward Island 2.0 2.9% 1.1 1.6%
Nova Scotia 10.3 2.5% 5.8 1.4%
New Brunswick 7.6 2.4% 3.8 1.2%
Quebec 87.4 2.5% 63.5 1.8%
Ontario 184.6 3.0% 99.5 1.6%
Manitoba 13.9 2.3% 8.9 1.5%
Saskatchewan 10.1 2.2% 6.1 1.3%
Alberta 53.6 2.7% 39.1 2.0%
BC 92.6 4.2% 46.1 2.1%
Yukon 0.8 4.0% 0.3 1.2%
Northwest Territories 0.6 2.4% 0.4 1.6%
Nunavut 0.4 3.6% 0.2 1.0%
2017Q4 thousands % thousands %
Canada 469.4 2.9% 306.6 1.9%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.4 1.6% 2.4 1.1%
Prince Edward Island 1.3 2.0% 0.7 1.1%
Nova Scotia 10.1 2.5% 5.8 1.4%
New Brunswick 7.0 2.3% 4.9 1.5%
Quebec 92.5 2.6% 71.7 2.0%
Ontario 190.4 3.0% 116.0 1.8%
Manitoba 14.1 2.4% 7.9 1.3%
Saskatchewan 9.4 2.0% 6.7 1.4%
Alberta 51.3 2.6% 35.4 1.8%
BC 88.5 4.0% 54.1 2.4%
Yukon 0.6 3.0% 0.4 1.6%
Northwest Territories 0.5 2.3% 0.5 1.8%
Nunavut 0.4 2.8% 0.2 1.1%
2018Q1 thousands % thousands %
Canada 461.8 2.9% 313.1 1.9%
Newfoundland and Labrador 2.9 1.5% 1.9 0.9%
Prince Edward Island 1.2 2.0% 0.9 1.4%
Nova Scotia 9.0 2.3% 5.1 1.3%
New Brunswick 7.2 2.5% 5.6 1.9%
Quebec 92.9 2.6% 72.8 2.0%
Ontario 180.9 2.9% 123.4 1.9%
Manitoba 13.4 2.3% 7.2 1.2%
Saskatchewan 9.3 2.0% 5.9 1.3%
Alberta 50.7 2.6% 38.0 1.9%
BC 92.6 4.2% 51.1 2.3%
Yukon 0.7 4.3% 0.5 2.5%
Northwest Territories 0.8 3.5% 0.4 1.7%
Nunavut 0.3 2.8% 0.1 0.8%
2018Q2 thousands % thousands %
Canada 546.8 3.4% 360.9 2.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador 4.5 2.3% 2.2 1.1%
Prince Edward Island 2.9 4.7% 1.5 2.3%
Nova Scotia 11.9 3.0% 5.4 1.3%
New Brunswick 10.6 3.6% 6.5 2.1%
Quebec 116.3 3.2% 83.9 2.3%
Ontario 205.8 3.3% 145.3 2.3%
Manitoba 15.9 2.7% 9.6 1.6%
Saskatchewan 11.4 2.5% 7.3 1.5%
Alberta 59.8 3.0% 40.0 2.0%
BC 105.7 4.7% 58.3 2.6%
Yukon 0.9 5.1% 0.4 2.0%
Northwest Territories 0.7 3.1% 0.4 1.6%
Nunavut 0.4 3.2% 0.2 1.3%
2018Q3 thousands % thousands %
Canada 550.7 3.3% 360.8 2.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.9 1.9% 2.8 1.3%
Prince Edward Island 2.6 3.7% 1.2 1.7%
Nova Scotia 11.6 2.8% 6.1 1.5%
New Brunswick 9.8 3.0% 6.9 2.1%
Quebec 118.4 3.2% 82.4 2.2%
Ontario 207.0 3.2% 139.9 2.2%
Manitoba 15.3 2.5% 10.0 1.6%
Saskatchewan 10.8 2.3% 7.9 1.7%
Alberta 58.7 2.9% 40.3 2.0%
BC 110.6 4.8% 62.1 2.7%
Yukon 0.9 4.5% 0.6 2.4%
Northwest Territories 0.8 3.3% 0.3 1.0%
Nunavut 0.4 3.5% 0.2 1.0%
2018Q4 thousands % thousands %
Canada 547.3 3.3% 324.1 1.9%
Newfoundland and Labrador 4.2 2.1% 2.4 1.1%
Prince Edward Island 2.1 3.1% 0.9 1.3%
Nova Scotia 11.1 2.7% 6.2 1.5%
New Brunswick 9.2 2.9% 6.0 1.8%
Quebec 117.9 3.2% 70.7 1.9%
Ontario 217.3 3.3% 131.7 2.0%
Manitoba 15.2 2.5% 10.6 1.7%
Saskatchewan 8.9 1.9% 6.9 1.4%
Alberta 55.0 2.7% 34.6 1.7%
BC 104.5 4.5% 53.2 2.3%
Yukon 0.8 4.2% 0.3 1.4%
Northwest Territories 0.7 3.3% 0.5 2.0%
Nunavut 0.4 3.1% 0.2 1.1%
2019Q1 thousands % thousands %
Canada 506.1 3.1% 313.3 1.9%
Newfoundland and Labrador 3.3 1.7% 2.9 1.4%
Prince Edward Island 1.6 2.7% 0.9 1.3%
Nova Scotia 9.4 2.4% 6.5 1.6%
New Brunswick 7.8 2.6% 5.2 1.7%
Quebec 114.2 3.1% 66.6 1.8%
Ontario 193.3 3.0% 124.2 1.9%
Manitoba 14.0 2.3% 9.1 1.5%
Saskatchewan 8.9 1.9% 6.1 1.3%
Alberta 49.8 2.5% 34.5 1.7%
BC 101.9 4.4% 56.1 2.4%
Yukon 0.7 4.3% 0.3 1.6%
Northwest Territories 0.8 3.5% 0.5 1.8%
Nunavut 0.5 3.7% 0.3 1.7%
Note: As the reference date of the Job Vacancy Statistics is the last day of the month, the quarterly estimates are offset by 1 month, e.g., Q1 is December, January and February for the Job Vacancy Statistics.
Source: Statistics Canada, Job Vacancy Statistics and the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, 2015 -2019.
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