--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-15/the-impact-of-interprovincial-migration-on-aggregate-output-and-labour-productivity-in-canada-1987-2006/" title: "The Impact of Interprovincial Migration on Aggregate Output and Labour Productivity in Canada, 1987-2006" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T06:54:00+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T06:54:00+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Fall 2007" ipm_keyword: - "Alberta" - "Canada" - "employment" - "interprovincial migration" - "labour mobility" - "output" - "productivity" - "provinces" - "reallocation" ipm_research_theme: - "Productivity trends and comparisons" ipm_country_focus: - "Canada" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # The Impact of Interprovincial Migration on Aggregate Output and Labour Productivity in Canada, 1987-2006 Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-15/the-impact-of-interprovincial-migration-on-aggregate-output-and-labour-productivity-in-canada-1987-2006/ # The Impact of Interprovincial Migration on Aggregate Output and Labour Productivity in Canada, 1987-2006 [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-15-2-Sharpe-Arsenault-Ershov.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Sharpe, Andrew, Jean-François Arsenault, and Daniel Ershov. 2007. “The Impact of Interprovincial Migration on Aggregate Output and Labour Productivity in Canada, 1987-2006.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 15 (Fall 2007): 25–40. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-15/the-impact-of-interprovincial-migration-on-aggregate-output-and-labour-productivity-in-canada-1987-2006/ ## Authors: - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Jean-François Arsenault Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Daniel Ershov Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## IPM Issue 15 Fall 2007 pp. 25–40 ## Related IPM articles [The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth Robin Shaban Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 82–102](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-relationship-between-efficiencies-defenses-for-mergers-and-tfp-growth/) [Adult Skills and Productivity: New Evidence from PIAAC 2023 Dan Andrews, Balázs Égert, Christine de La Maisonneuve Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 41–63](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/adult-skills-and-productivity-new-evidence-from-piaac-2023/) [Appendix: Variable Definitions and Country/Sector Coverage for Regulatory Reform Analysis Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 1–18](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/appendix-variable-definitions-and-country-sector-coverage-for-regulatory-reform-analysis/) [The Potential Impact of Pro-competitive Regulatory Reforms on Productivity and Growth in Canada Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 3–40](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-potential-impact-of-pro-competitive-regulatory-reforms-on-productivity-and-growth-in-canada/) [IPM Issue 49 Editors’ Overview Andrew Sharpe, Bart van Ark, Paul Schreyer Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 1–2](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/) [Appendix: UK Productivity Growth Rates Across Data Vintages and Studies Josh Martin Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 65–73](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/appendix-uk-productivity-growth-rates-across-data-vintages-and-studies/) [Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Productivity Francesco Filippucci, Peter Gal, Katharina Laengle, Matthias Schief, Filiz Unsal Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 1–26](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/opportunities-and-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-for-productivity/) [Using Ecosystem Accounting to Integrate the Environment in Measures of Multifactor Productivity Carl Obst Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 87–108](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/using-ecosystem-accounting-to-integrate-the-environment-in-measures-of-multifactor-productivity/) [Eroding Natural Capital: An Alternative Explanation for the Secular Decline in Productivity Growth Christina Caron Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 109–147](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/eroding-natural-capital-an-alternative-explanation-for-the-secular-decline-in-productivity-growth/) [How Does Industrial Policy Impact Output, Hours and Productivity? The Canadian Experience Tim Sargent Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 39–53](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/how-does-industrial-policy-impact-output-hours-and-productivity-the-canadian-experience/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn Interprovincial migration has increased significantly in Canada since 2003. This article develops a methodology to estimate total output gains due to interprovincial migration from two sources: gains due to increased employment, and gains due to re-allocation of workers between provinces with different productivity levels. It estimates that in 2006 the net output gains arising from interprovincial migration were $883.1 million (1997 constant prices), or 0.074 per cent of GDP. Higher employment rates in provinces experiencing a net positive balance of interprovincial migrants were responsible for $398.0 million of the gains and higher output per worker in these provinces was responsible for $485.0 million. A RE COR D NUMBE R OF PERSONS , 370,791, La migration interprovinciale a augmenté de manière significative au Canada depuis 2003. Cet article élabore une méthodologie pour estimer les gains de production totaux découlant de la migration interprovinciale provenant de deux sources : les gains attribuables à la hausse de l’emploi et les gains attribuables à la réaffectation des travailleurs entre provinces affichant différents niveaux de productivité. Il estime qu’en 2006, les gains de production nets découlant de la migration interprovinciale s’élevaient à 883,1 millions de dollars (en prix constants de 1997), soit 0,074 % du PIB. Des taux d’emploi plus élevés dans les provinces affichant un solde migratoire interprovincial net positif ont représenté 398,0 millions de dollars des gains, et une production par travailleur plus élevée dans ces provinces a représenté 485,0 millions de dollars. 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