Glossary of Terms
Census:
Every five years, Statistics Canada conducts a census. The last census was taken in 2016. The census provides a statistical portrait of our country and its people. The census includes every man, woman and child living in Canada on Census day, as well as Canadians who are abroad. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Employment:
Number of non-institutionalized, civilian working-age adults (15 years of age and older) working at paid jobs plus those who are self-employed, including unpaid workers who contribute to the family’s farm or other business. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC):
ESDC is a department of the Government of Canada. ESDC was formerly known as Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). (Source: ESDC)
Employment Rate:
The employment rate (formerly the employment/population ratio) is the number of persons employed expressed as a percentage of the population 15 years of age and over. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Good-producing industries:
Includes agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and oil and gas extraction; utilities (electric power, gas and water); construction; and manufacturing. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Labour Force:
The sum of employed and unemployed persons aged 15 and up. Excludes those who are not employed and who are not looking for work. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Labour Force Survey (LFS):
The LFS provides estimates of employment and unemployment which are among the most timely and important measures of performance in the Canadian economy. The main objective of the LFS is to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive classifications – employed, unemployed and not in the labour force – and to provide descriptive and explanatory data on each of these. Each month 4,700 households in Manitoba participate in the LFS. (Source: Statistics Canada and MBS)
Canada’s Labour Force Survey estimates are based on a sample and are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates can be highly volatile at the sub-population level. As the population under analysis decreases, the margin of error increases, particularly related to monthly fluctuations. Estimates for smaller geographic areas or industries will have more variability.
For an explanation of sampling variability of estimates, and how to use standard errors to assess this variability, consult the “Data quality” section of the Statistics Canada publication “Labour Force Information” (71-001-X) or the “Data quality” section of Statistics Canada’s “Guide to the Labour Force Survey” (71-543-G).
Manitoba Bureau of Statistics (MBS):
MBS is the Manitoba government’s central statistical agency. MBS is legislated to serve this function for the Province of Manitoba. (Source: MBS)
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS):
NAICS is an economic classification system that replaces the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system for statistical purposes. Like the SIC, NAICS is a system for classifying establishments by type of economic activity. (Source: ESDC).
National Household Survey (NHS):
Information previously collected by the mandatory long-form census questionnaire will be collected as part of the new voluntary NHS. The information collected in the NHS will provide data to support government programs directed at target populations. Information from the NHS will also support provincial/territorial and local government planning and program delivery. (Source: Statistics Canada)
National Occupation Classification (NOC):
The NOC is the nationally accepted reference or code on occupations in Canada. It organizes over 40,000 job titles into 500 occupational group descriptions. It is used daily by thousands of people to compile, analyze and communicate information about occupations, and to understand the jobs found throughout Canada’s Labour Market. (Source: ESDC)
Services-producing industries:
Includes trade; transportation and warehousing; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; professional, scientific and technical services; business, building and other support services, educational services; health care and social assistance; information, culture and recreation; accommodation and food services; other services; and public administration.
Statistics Canada:
Canada’s central statistical agency. Statistics Canada is legislated to serve this function for the whole of Canada and each of the provinces. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Participation Rate:
The participation rate is the number of labour force participants expressed as a percentage of the population 15 years of age and over. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Unemployment:
People who are available for work and are actively looking for jobs, or have looked for work in the previous four weeks. (Source: Statistics Canada)
Unemployment Rate:
The number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the labour force. (Source: Statistics Canada)
