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Statistics Canada announced that in May \(2015,\) of all Canadians aged 15 years and older, 17953800 were employed, 1307600 were unemployed, and 9970800 were not in the labour force. How big was the labour force? What was the labour- force participation rate? What was the unemployment rate?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Labour force: 19261400, Labour-force participation rate: 65.9%, Unemployment rate: 6.8%.

Step by step solution

01

Calculate the Labour Force

To find the labour force, we need to add the number of employed and unemployed individuals. So, the labour force is given by:\[\text{Labour Force} = \text{Employed} + \text{Unemployed}\]Substitute the given values:\[\text{Labour Force} = 17953800 + 1307600 = 19261400\]
02

Calculate the Labour Force Participation Rate

The labour force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is either employed or actively looking for employment (i.e., the labour force) out of the total population aged 15 and older.The formula is given by:\[\text{Labour Force Participation Rate} = \left( \frac{\text{Labour Force}}{\text{Total Population}} \right) \times 100\]First, find the total population:\[\text{Total Population} = \text{Employed} + \text{Unemployed} + \text{Not in Labour Force}\]\[\text{Total Population} = 17953800 + 1307600 + 9970800 = 29232200\]Now, substitute to find the participation rate:\[\text{Labour Force Participation Rate} = \left( \frac{19261400}{29232200} \right) \times 100 \approx 65.9\%\]
03

Calculate the Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate is the percentage of the labour force that is unemployed. The formula is:\[\text{Unemployment Rate} = \left( \frac{\text{Unemployed}}{\text{Labour Force}} \right) \times 100\]Substitute the given numbers:\[\text{Unemployment Rate} = \left( \frac{1307600}{19261400} \right) \times 100 \approx 6.8\%\]

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Labour Force Participation Rate
The Labour Force Participation Rate is an essential economic metric. It helps us understand the proportion of a certain population actively engaged in the labor market.
This includes people who are either employed or actively seeking employment. To calculate this rate, you need to know the size of the labour force and the total population aged 15 and older. The formula is:
\[\text{Labour Force Participation Rate} = \left( \frac{\text{Labour Force}}{\text{Total Population}} \right) \times 100\]This percentage tells us how drivers such as economic conditions, cultural factors, and educational opportunities affect people's engagement in the workforce.
  • A high participation rate might indicate a healthy economy with abundant job opportunities encouraging more people to work.
  • A lower rate might reflect various issues, such as lack of job opportunities, discouraged workers, or an increase in the number of retirees.
Understanding this rate can shed light on the economic climate and social policies of a region.
Unemployment Rate
The Unemployment Rate provides insights into the economic health of a country by showing the proportion of the labor force that is jobless and actively seeking employment.
It's different from the Labour Force Participation Rate because it focuses solely on the job-seeking segment of the labour force. To determine the unemployment rate, use the following formula:
\[\text{Unemployment Rate} = \left( \frac{\text{Unemployed}}{\text{Labour Force}} \right) \times 100\]This rate is a key indicator of economic performance, as it helps measure the availability of jobs and the ease with which people can secure employment.
  • High unemployment rates may suggest economic distress, as many people wish to work but cannot find jobs.
  • On the other hand, very low unemployment rates could indicate an overheating economy, potentially leading to inflationary pressures.
Monitoring unemployment trends can help policymakers make informed decisions to stabilize and stimulate economic growth.
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the national statistical agency of Canada. It plays a pivotal role in data collection and analysis of various sectors, including the labour market.
By producing statistics and data that are accessible to all Canadians and businesses, this agency provides crucial insights into Canada's economy, society, and environment. Data Collection Methods
Statistics Canada employs a variety of collection methods to ensure data accuracy and reliability:
  • Surveys and censuses are conducted regularly to gather comprehensive labor market insights.
  • Administrative data from other government departments is also integrated to enhance data depth and coverage.
Role in Labour Market Analysis
Statistics Canada's data is vital in understanding trends such as employment rates, labor force participation, and unemployment rates in Canada.
This information aids policymakers, researchers, and public stakeholders in making data-driven decisions aimed at improving economic and social outcomes across the country.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Are the following workers more likely to experience short-term or long-term unemployment? Explain. a. a construction worker laid off because of bad weather b. a manufacturing worker who loses her job at a plant in an isolated area c. a stagecoach-industry worker laid off because of competition from railroads d. a short-order cook who loses his job when a new restaurant opens across the street e. an expert welder with little formal education who loses her job when the company installs automatic welding machinery

It can be shown that an industry's demand for labour will become more elastic when the demand for the industry's product becomes more elastic. Let's consider the implications of this fact for the Canadian automobile industry and Unifor, the union that represents Canadian autoworkers. a. What happened to the elasticity of demand for Canadian cars when the Japanese developed a strong auto industry? What happened to the elasticity of demand for Canadian autoworkers? Explain. b. As the chapter explains, a union generally faces a tradeoff in deciding how much to raise wages because a larger increase is better for workers who remain employed but also results in a greater reduction in employment. How did the rise in auto imports from Japan affect the wage employment tradeoff faced by Unifor? c. Do you think the growth of the Japanese auto industry increased or decreased the gap between the competitive wage and the wage negotiated by Unifor? Explain.

Go to the Government of Canada's website at http:// srv129.services.gc.ca/rbin/eng/postalcode_search aspx and enter your postal code. You will be told the unemployment rate in your region, the number of hours of employment you will need to qualify for EI benefits, and the number of weeks you will be eligible to collect EI, depending on your recent employment history. Now enter a postal code for someone living in an area of the country with a much different unemployment rate from that in your area. How might these differences influence labour market behaviour in one region versus the other?

Do you think that firms in small towns or in cities have more market power in hiring? Do you think that firms generally have more market power in hiring today than 50 years ago, or less? How do you think this change over time has affected the role of unions in the economy? Explain.

Consider an economy with two labour markets, neither of which is unionized. Now suppose a union is established in one market. a. Show the effect of the union on the market in which it is formed. In what sense is the quantity of labour employed in this market an inefficient quantity? b. Show the effect of the union on the non unionized market. What happens to the equilibrium wage in this market?

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