Occupation, Age 15+: Census
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Rate: Refers to the number of persons employed in the week prior to census day, expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 15 years and older. Employed persons were those who, during the reference week, did any work in the context of an employer-employee relationship or self-employment, or who had a job but were not at work due to factors such as their own illness or disability, personal or family responsibilities, vacation, or a labour dispute. The reference week for the 2006 census was May 7-13; for the 2016 census, it was May 1-7: for the 2021 census, it was May 2 to 8, 2021.
Labour Force: Refers to persons who, during the week prior to census day, were either employed or unemployed. The reference week for the 2006 census was May 7-13; for the 2016 census, it was May 1-7; for the 2021 census, it was May 2 to 8, 2021.
Labour Force Participation Rate: Refers to the labour force (number of persons who were either employed or unemployed) in the week prior to census day, expressed as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and older. The reference week for the 2006 census was May 7-13; for the 2016 census, it was May 1-7; for the 2021 census, it was May 2 to 8, 2021.
Occupation: An occupation is a set of jobs that are sufficiently similar in the work performed. Categories are based on the National Occupational Classification.
Unemployment Rate: Refers to the number of persons who were unemployed in the week prior to census day, expressed as a percentage of the labour force. Unemployed persons were those who, during the reference week, were without paid work or without self-employment work but were available for work, and either had actively looked for paid work in the past four weeks or were on temporary lay-off and expected to return to their job, or had definite arrangements to start a new job in four weeks or less. The reference week for the 2006 census was May 7-13; for the 2016 census, it was May 1-7; for the 2021 census, it was May 2 to 8, 2021.
Worked Full Year, Full Time: Refers to persons aged 15 years and older who, in the year prior to the census, worked a full year (49 weeks or more) and mostly full time (30 hours or more per week).
Worked Part Year and/or Part Time: Refers to persons aged 15 years and older who, in the year prior to the census, worked a full year but mostly part time, a part year mostly full time, or a part year mostly part time. A part year is less than 49 weeks per year, part time is less than 30 hours per week, and full time is 30 hours or more per week.
SOURCE DATA
2006 Dashboard Data: Statistics Canada. 2006. Census of Population. Custom tabulations.
2016 Dashboard Data: Statistics Canada. 2016. Census of Population. Custom tabulations.
2021 Dashboard Data: Statistics Canada. 2021. Census of Population. Custom tabulations.
Definitions: Statistics Canada. 2023 (updated). Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021. Website.
Occupation, Age 15+: Census in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
8. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. And in too many places, having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. This slow and uneven progress requires us to rethink and retool our economic and social policies aimed at eradicating poverty.
A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress. The creation of quality jobs will remain a major challenge for almost all economies well beyond 2015.
Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment. Job opportunities and decent working conditions are also required for the whole working age population.
Related Occupation, Age 15+: Census Targets
Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all
