Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Labour force status

Definition

Labour force status refers to whether a person was employed, unemployed or not in the labour force during the reference period. The labour force consists of persons who contribute or are available to contribute to the production of goods and services falling within the System of National Accounts production boundary.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person 15 years or over

Classification(s)

• Collapsed - Labour Force Status
• Employed Status
• Labour Force Status

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986 and 1981 (20% sample). For availability prior to 1981, please refer to Appendix 2.1.

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over in private households

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 38 to 43

Responses

For the values for the Labour force status variable, please refer to Table 2.8.

Remarks

For more information, see the definitions for Employed person, Unemployed and Not in the labour force variables.

The Labour force status categories were derived from the responses to the following questions on the census questionnaire:

• Hours worked for pay or in self-employment (Question 38)
• On temporary lay-off or absent from job or business (Question 39)
• New job to start in four weeks or less from reference week (Question 40)
• Looked for paid work in past four weeks (full-or part-time work) (Question 41)
• Reasons unable to start a job (Question 42)
• When last worked for pay or in self-employment (Question 43).

See Figure 2.9 for the components of the population and the Labour force status variable.

For information on the comparability of the 2021 Census labour force status data with those of the Labour Force Survey, see Appendix 2.11.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001)
• All languages used at work by single and multiple responses of language used at work and mother tongue: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0529-01)
• All languages used at work by single and multiple responses of language used at work, mother tongue and industry: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0528-01)
• First official language spoken by labour force status, highest level of education and immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0615-01)
• First official language spoken by languages used at work, immigrant status and place of birth: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0521-01)
• High school completion by Indigenous identity and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0421-01)
• High school completion by Indigenous identity, Indigenous geography and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0420-01)
• Highest level of education by Indigenous identity and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0424-01)
• Highest level of education by Indigenous identity, Indigenous geography and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0423-01)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by first official language spoken, labour force status and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0362-01)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by mother tongue, labour force status and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0309-01)
• Industry groups by class of worker including job permanency, labour force status, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0448-01)
• Labour force status by highest level of education, indigenous identity, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0451-01)
• Labour force status by highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0400-01)
• Labour force status by major field of study (detailed, 4-digit) and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0401-01)
• Labour force status by major field of study, highest level of education, location of study compared with location of residence, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0445-01)
• Labour force status by visible minority, highest level of education, major field of study (STEM and BHASE, summary) and immigrant status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0435-01)
• Labour force status by visible minority, immigrant status and period of immigration, highest level of education, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0446-01)
• Languages used at work by employment income statistics, immigrant status and highest certificate, diploma or degree: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0530-01)
• Languages used at work by industry and occupation: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0520-01)
• Languages used at work by industry groups and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0531-01)
• Languages used at work by knowledge of official languages and highest certificate, diploma or degree: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0519-01)
• Languages used at work by languages used at home, immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0524-01)
• Languages used at work by mother tongue and industry: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0526-01)
• Languages used at work by mother tongue and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0533-01)
• Languages used at work by mother tongue, immigrant status and occupation: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0525-01)
• Languages used at work by mother tongue, industry and highest certificate, diploma or degree: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0527-01)
• Languages used at work by mother tongue: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0522-01)
• Languages used at work by occupation and knowledge of official languages: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0532-01)
• Membership in a First Nation or Indian band by labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0295-01)
• Occupation (training, education, experience and responsibility category - TEER) by mobility status 5 years ago, place of residence 5 years ago and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0450-01)
• Occupation unit group by labour force status, highest level of education, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0449-01)