--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-the-productivity-performance-of-canadian-food-manufacturing/" title: "A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of Canadian Food Manufacturing" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:25:00+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:25:00+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Agriculture and Agri-Food" - "Canada" - "capital intensity" - "food manufacturing" - "labour productivity" - "multifactor productivity" - "productivity drivers" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "Sector/Industry Analysis" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of Canadian Food Manufacturing Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-the-productivity-performance-of-canadian-food-manufacturing/ # A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of Canadian Food Manufacturing [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2011-07-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Ross, Christopher. 2011. “A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of Canadian Food Manufacturing.” CSLS Research Report 2011-07. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-the-productivity-performance-of-canadian-food-manufacturing/ ## Author: - Christopher Ross Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2011-07 August 2011 110 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Productivity Trends: A Canada-U.S. Comparison Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) January 1999 | Report 1999-01 | 6 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-a-canada-u-s-comparison/) [New Estimates of Manufacturing Productivity Growth for Canada and the United States Andrew Sharpe March 1999 | Report 1999-02 | 21 pages](https://csls.ca/research/new-estimates-of-manufacturing-productivity-growth-for-canada-and-the-united-states/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? Andrew Sharpe December 1999 | Report 1999-03 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-in-canadaa-training-system-under-siege/) [A Survey of Indicators of Economic and Social Well-being Andrew Sharpe July 1999 | Report 1999-cprn | 72 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-survey-of-indicators-of-economic-and-social-well-being/) [Creating a More Efficient Labour Market Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2001 | Report 2001-02 | 147 pages](https://csls.ca/research/creating-a-more-efficient-labour-market/) [Productivity Trends in the Construction Sector: A Case of Lagging Technical Progress Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) November 2001 | Report 2001-03 | 177 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-the-construction-sector-a-case-of-lagging-technical-progress/) [The Impact of the National Child Benefit Supplement on the Low Income Status of Canadian Families with Children: The SPSD/M Results Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2002 | Report 2002-01 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-the-national-child-benefit-supplement-on-the-low-income-status-of-canadian-families-with-children-the-spsd-m-results/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This report analyzes labour productivity, multifactor productivity and input trends in Canadian food manufacturing since 1961, with a focus on the entire time period and developments since 2000. It is found that the subsector experienced labour productivity growth stronger than the business sector over both the long and short term, but has outperformed manufacturing only in the more recent period. Labour productivity growth is decomposed into capital intensity and multifactor productivity growth, which are found to have contributed to growth almost equally, and labour composition growth accounted for less than 15 per cent over the 1961-2007 period. Underlying drivers of growth are identified and trends in technology, capacity utilization, human capital, economies of scale, machinery and equipment, international trade, and regulation are explored. Policy implications for fostering labour productivity growth based on the drivers are outlined. Finally, a conclusion summarizes the key findings of the paper. Ce rapport analyse la productivité du travail, la productivité multifactorielle et les tendances des intrants dans la fabrication d’aliments au Canada depuis 1961, en mettant l’accent sur l’ensemble de la période ainsi que sur l’évolution depuis 2000. On constate que ce sous-secteur a affiché une croissance de la productivité du travail plus forte que celle du secteur des entreprises, tant à long terme qu’à court terme, mais qu’il n’a surpassé le secteur manufacturier que durant la période la plus récente. La croissance de la productivité du travail est décomposée en intensité capitalistique et en croissance de la productivité multifactorielle, qui ont contribué presque également à la croissance, la croissance de la composition de la main-d’œuvre n’expliquant que moins de 15 % de la croissance sur la période 1961-2007. Les moteurs sous-jacents de la croissance sont cernés, et les tendances en matière de technologie, d’utilisation de la capacité, de capital humain, d’économies d’échelle, de machines et matériel, de commerce international et de réglementation sont explorées. Les répercussions politiques pour favoriser la croissance de la productivité du travail, fondées sur ces moteurs, sont présentées. Enfin, une conclusion résume les principaux constats de l’article. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2011-07-1.pdf)