--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/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: "2026-07-02T13:41:28+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:41:28+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Canada" - "GDP" - "interprovincial migration" - "labour productivity" - "labour reallocation" - "output" - "provinces" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "Multi-province" research_theme: - "Labour Markets" - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "Regional Economic Development" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # The Impact of Interprovincial Migration on Aggregate Output and Labour Productivity in Canada, 1987-2006 Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/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 report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2007-02-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report 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.” CSLS Research Report 2007-02. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/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) ## Report 2007-02 July 2007 113 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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This report attempts to estimate the number of workers moving in and out of each province, and to estimate the total output gains due to interprovincial migration. It breaks output gains into two sources: gains due to increased employment, and gains due to re-allocation of workers between provinces with lower productivity to provinces with higher productivity. A record number of people, 370,791, equivalent to 1.14 per cent of all Canadians, migrated between provinces in 2006. This is 50 per cent more than in 2003. In 2006, the net output gains arising from interprovincial migration are estimated to be $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. Interprovincial migration was also responsible for 2.82 per cent of real GDP growth over in 2006 and 1.27 per cent of real GDP growth from 1987-2006. Finally, interprovincial migration was responsible for 6.23 per cent of labour productivity growth in Canada in 2006 and 1.56 per cent over the 1987-2006 period. La migration interprovinciale a joué un rôle croissant dans l’économie canadienne au cours des trois dernières années. Ce rapport tente d’estimer le nombre de travailleurs entrant et sortant de chaque province, ainsi que les gains de production totaux découlant de la migration interprovinciale. Il décompose ces gains de production en deux sources : les gains attribuables à la hausse de l’emploi, et les gains attribuables à la réaffectation de travailleurs des provinces à faible productivité vers des provinces à productivité plus élevée. Un nombre record de personnes, soit 370 791, l’équivalent de 1,14 % de l’ensemble des Canadiens, ont migré entre les provinces en 2006, soit 50 % de plus qu’en 2003. En 2006, les gains de production nets découlant de la migration interprovinciale sont estimés à 883,1 millions de dollars (en prix constants de 1997), soit 0,074 % du PIB. Les taux d’emploi plus élevés dans les provinces affichant un solde migratoire interprovincial net positif expliquent 398,0 millions de dollars des gains, et la production par travailleur plus élevée dans ces provinces explique 485,0 millions de dollars. La migration interprovinciale a également été responsable de 2,82 % de la croissance du PIB réel en 2006 et de 1,27 % de la croissance du PIB réel sur la période 1987-2006. Enfin, la migration interprovinciale a été responsable de 6,23 % de la croissance de la productivité du travail au Canada en 2006 et de 1,56 % sur la période 1987-2006. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2007-02-1.pdf)