--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/indicators-of-labour-market-conditions-in-canada/" title: "Indicators of Labour Market Conditions in Canada" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:41:26+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:41:26+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Canada" - "composite index" - "labour market" - "labour market indicators" - "unemployment rate" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Labour Markets" - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Indicators of Labour Market Conditions in Canada Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/indicators-of-labour-market-conditions-in-canada/ # Indicators of Labour Market Conditions in Canada [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2007-03-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Sharpe, Andrew, and Anne-Marie Shaker. 2007. “Indicators of Labour Market Conditions in Canada.” CSLS Research Report 2007-03. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/indicators-of-labour-market-conditions-in-canada/ ## Authors: - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Anne-Marie Shaker Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2007-03 November 2007 67 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/) [Closing the First Nations Education Gap in Canada: Assessing Progress and Estimating the Economic Benefits — An Update Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2023 | Report 2023-01 | 101 pages](https://csls.ca/research/closing-the-first-nations-education-gap-in-canada-assessing-progress-and-estimating-the-economic-benefits-an-update-2023-01/) [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/) [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/) [A Comparison of Canadian and U.S. Labour Market Performance, 1989-2000 Andrew Sharpe April 2001 | Report 2001-01 | 29 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-comparison-of-canadian-and-u-s-labour-market-performance-1989-2000/) [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/) [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/) [Productivity Trends in Natural Resources Industries in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01a | 69 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-natural-resources-industries-in-canada/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the relevant measures and indicators of labour market conditions, as concern unemployment, in the context of current and future labour market and economic trends. It is also to verify whether and how the importance of these measures has changed over time. There are three main objectives for this report. The first is to ascertain to what degree the unemployment rate is an adequate predictor of labour market conditions in the context of the changing economy. Labour market conditions refer to the state of the labour market and encompass different dimensions. The second is to assess the suitability of other labour market indicators as predictors of labour market conditions. The third is to discuss the feasibility of aggregating relevant labour market indicators into a composite indicator of labour market conditions that might be considered for use in the design of government programs. This report concludes that the unemployment rate is actually a good indicator of labour market conditions, although it is wise to supplement it with additional indicators. The construction of composite indices does not seem to provide much more information on labour market conditions than the unemployment rate does. L’objectif de cette étude est de cerner et d’évaluer les mesures et indicateurs pertinents des conditions du marché du travail, en ce qui concerne le chômage, dans le contexte des tendances actuelles et futures du marché du travail et de l’économie. Elle vise également à vérifier si et comment l’importance de ces mesures a évolué au fil du temps. Ce rapport poursuit trois objectifs principaux. Le premier est de déterminer dans quelle mesure le taux de chômage constitue un indicateur adéquat des conditions du marché du travail dans le contexte d’une économie en évolution. Les conditions du marché du travail désignent l’état du marché du travail et englobent diverses dimensions. Le deuxième est d’évaluer la pertinence d’autres indicateurs du marché du travail comme prédicteurs des conditions du marché du travail. Le troisième est d’examiner la faisabilité d’agréger les indicateurs pertinents du marché du travail en un indicateur composite des conditions du marché du travail qui pourrait être envisagé dans l’élaboration de programmes gouvernementaux. Ce rapport conclut que le taux de chômage constitue effectivement un bon indicateur des conditions du marché du travail, bien qu’il soit prudent de le compléter par d’autres indicateurs. La construction d’indices composites ne semble pas fournir beaucoup plus d’information sur les conditions du marché du travail que le taux de chômage à lui seul. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2007-03-1.pdf)