--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/state-of-the-evidence-on-health-as-a-determinant-of-productivity/" title: "State of the Evidence on Health as a Determinant of Productivity" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:25:06+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:25:06+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "absenteeism" - "Canada" - "disability" - "health" - "labour productivity" - "presenteeism" - "productivity" - "social productivity" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Economic Well-Being" - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # State of the Evidence on Health as a Determinant of Productivity Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/state-of-the-evidence-on-health-as-a-determinant-of-productivity/ # State of the Evidence on Health as a Determinant of Productivity [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2011-04-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Sharpe, Andrew, and Alexander Murray. 2011. “State of the Evidence on Health as a Determinant of Productivity.” CSLS Research Report 2011-04. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/state-of-the-evidence-on-health-as-a-determinant-of-productivity/ ## Authors: - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Alexander Murray Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2011-04 June 2011 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/) [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? 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In theory, a deterioration of the health status of Canadian workers could explain slower productivity growth. However, the evidence does not support this hypothesis. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that illness and disability impose a massive indirect economic burden on the Canadian economy because many persons of working age are unable to work. Canada’s potential level of ‘social productivity’ is lower because of this situation. This is an output shortfall issue, not a conventional productivity issue, and it is important not to confuse the two. La performance de la productivité du travail du Canada a été désastreuse depuis 2000, tant par rapport à son expérience historique qu’à celle des États-Unis. En théorie, une détérioration de l’état de santé des travailleurs canadiens pourrait expliquer ce ralentissement de la croissance de la productivité. Cependant, les données probantes ne soutiennent pas cette hypothèse. Néanmoins, il ne fait aucun doute que la maladie et l’incapacité imposent un fardeau économique indirect considérable à l’économie canadienne, puisque de nombreuses personnes en âge de travailler sont incapables de le faire. Le niveau potentiel de « productivité sociale » du Canada est ainsi réduit en raison de cette situation. Il s’agit d’un enjeu de manque à produire, et non d’un enjeu de productivité au sens conventionnel, et il importe de ne pas confondre les deux. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2011-04-1.pdf)