---
canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/an-index-of-labour-market-well-being-for-oecd-countries/"
title: "An Index of Labour Market Well-Being for OECD Countries"
author:
  name: "shomp"
  url: "https://csls.ca/author/shomp/"
date_published: "2026-07-02T14:07:54+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-21T13:38:55+00:00"
post_type: "research"
summary: ""
post_tag:
  - "earnings inequality"
  - "human capital"
  - "index"
  - "labour market security"
  - "labour market well-being"
  - "low wages"
  - "OECD"
  - "retirement poverty"
  - "unemployment"
country_focus:
  - "Canada"
  - "OECD"
province_region:
  - "National"
research_theme:
  - "Economic Well-Being"
  - "Labour Markets"
featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp"
status: "publish"
---

# An Index of Labour Market Well-Being for OECD Countries

Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/an-index-of-labour-market-well-being-for-oecd-countries/

# An Index of Labour Market Well-Being for OECD Countries

[Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2003-05.pdf)

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Cite this report as:

Osberg, Lars, and Andrew Sharpe. 2003. “An Index of Labour Market Well-Being for OECD Countries.” CSLS Research Report 2003-05. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/an-index-of-labour-market-well-being-for-oecd-countries/

## Authors:

-
Lars Osberg
Department of Economics, Dalhousie University

-
Andrew Sharpe
Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS)

## Report 2003-05

September 2003 37 pages

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## Abstract

## Résumé

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This report constructs an Index of Labour Market Well-being for OECD countries that measures the well-being individuals obtain through the labour market. The index has four components: average current labour market income, human capital, labour market equality (earnings inequality and low-wage employment), and labour market security (security from risks of unemployment, work-related illness, and poverty in retirement). The report develops a scaling methodology and presents estimates for OECD countries, comparing results with other composite measures of labour market performance.

Ce rapport élabore un Indice de bien-être sur le marché du travail pour les pays de l’OCDE, qui mesure le bien-être que les individus tirent du marché du travail. L’indice comprend quatre composantes : le revenu courant moyen tiré du marché du travail, le capital humain, l’égalité sur le marché du travail (inégalité salariale et emploi à bas salaire), et la sécurité sur le marché du travail (sécurité face aux risques de chômage, de maladie liée au travail et de pauvreté à la retraite). Le rapport élabore une méthodologie de mise à l’échelle et présente des estimations pour les pays de l’OCDE, en comparant les résultats à d’autres mesures composites de la performance du marché du travail.

[Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2003-05.pdf)