Canada - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in Canada was 21,072,280 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 21,072,280 in 2021 and a minimum value of 14,746,930 in 1990.

Definition: Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.

Source: Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1990 14,746,930
1991 14,812,000
1992 14,793,920
1993 14,881,270
1994 15,018,800
1995 15,123,400
1996 15,269,860
1997 15,511,970
1998 15,759,600
1999 16,045,920
2000 16,311,910
2001 16,594,440
2002 17,078,580
2003 17,472,800
2004 17,680,870
2005 17,821,890
2006 18,030,700
2007 18,379,600
2008 18,667,570
2009 18,799,160
2010 19,001,080
2011 19,147,400
2012 19,322,870
2013 19,546,550
2014 19,629,140
2015 19,747,710
2016 19,955,330
2017 20,218,240
2018 20,396,650
2019 20,792,600
2020 20,509,920
2021 21,072,280

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave. Data are generated with World Bank population estimates and ILO estimates on labor force participation rate. The ILO estimates are harmonized to ensure comparability across countries and over time by accounting for differences in data source, scope of coverage, methodology, and other country-specific factors. The estimates are based mainly on nationally representative labor force surveys, with other sources (population censuses and nationally reported estimates) used only when no survey data are available.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure