Economic and Social Reports, March 2022

Released: 2022-03-23

The March 2022 issue of Economic and Social Reports is now available and contains six articles.

Canadian businesses file more patents in the United States than in Canada

The article "Patenting activity of Canadian-resident businesses" shows that, from 2001 to 2015, the number of patent applications filed by Canadian businesses located in Canada rose slightly, but that this increase is entirely because of the higher number of patents filed in the United States.

This increase in patenting in the United States (+2,215 applications) can be traced to the increased activity of smaller, younger firms in service industries and in the technological fields of computer technology, civil engineering, digital communications, medical technology, transport and information technology methods for management.

These findings are from a new longitudinal database on patenting in Canada. Patenting is a measure of innovative activity and has been linked to positive economic outcomes for firms. Evidence suggests that Canadian-resident firms that file patent applications in the United States are as likely to experience high employment or revenue growth as firms that make applications in Canada.

How has Canada's economic recovery strengthened?

Economic recovery strengthened during the second half of 2021 as output rebounded to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in the fourth quarter. More details can be found in the article "Recent developments in the Canadian economy: Winter 2022," which provides an integrated summary of recent changes in output, consumer prices, and employment, and highlights changes in the economic data during the second half of 2021 and into early 2022. It also draws on data sources that inform the economic conditions facing businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.

Refugees use of social assistance decreases over time

The 2002 Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) significantly altered Canada's refugee priorities by committing to admission on humanitarian grounds and prioritizing those in need of protection. The article "From adaptability to vulnerability: Changes in admission criteria and refugee participation in social assistance" summarizes findings that compared the long-term use of social assistance among resettled refugees before and after IRPA, as well as during the transition to IRPA.

Two years after landing, 71% of government-assisted refugees (GARs) who arrived during the IRPA transition period (2002 to 2004) and 72% of post-IRPA arrivals received social assistance, compared with 66% of arrivals pre-IRPA. By the 10th year after arrival, the share of GARs receiving social assistance dropped to 25% for pre-IRPA arrivals and to 35% for post-IRPA arrivals.

International students as a source of labour supply

The article "International students as a source of labour supply: A summary of recent trends" features the main findings from a series of six articles by Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that examined the role of international students as a source of labour in Canada.

International students have provided a growing source of labour for the Canadian market that has extended well beyond their periods of study. About 3 in 10 international students became landed immigrants within 10 years. One in two international student graduates remained in their province of study. For international students who became permanent residents, Canadian study experience translated into stronger economic outcomes over time.

Youth unemployment recovering during the COVID-19 pandemic

Very few countries managed to avoid a hit to their economy or young people's employment in the wake of COVID-19. The article "Youth unemployment in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in times of COVID-19" shows that unemployment levels rose for workers in their mid-teens to mid-twenties in Canada, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom during the early days of the pandemic, reaching peak levels in the summer of 2020. One year later, in the summer of 2021, youth unemployment rates in all four countries largely recovered, although they all recorded slightly higher numbers than in 2019, before the pandemic. These findings are from a collaboration between Statistics Canada and three institutes in Europe on the COVID-19: Youth economic activity and health monitor project.

A profile of children with affirmative responses to the 2016 Census questions on difficulties with activities of daily living

The article "A profile of children with affirmative responses to the 2016 census questions on difficulties with activities of daily living" presents a sociodemographic profile of children aged 0 to 14 years based on responses to questions from the 2016 Census on difficulties with activities of daily living. Results show that these questions, which are aimed at identifying Canadians aged 15 and older who are likely to have a disability, might not be suitable for children aged 14 and younger. Given that these questions were repeated on the 2021 Census long-form questionnaire, future research is required to further assess their suitability.

Products

The March 2022 issue of Economic and Social Reports, Vol. 2, no. 3 (Catalogue number36280001) is now available. This issue contains the articles "International students as a source of labour supply: A summary of recent trends," "From adaptability to vulnerability: Changes in admission criteria and refugee participation in social assistance," "Youth unemployment in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in times of COVID-19," "Recent developments in the Canadian economy: Winter 2022," "Patenting activity of Canadian-resident businesses" and "A profile of children with affirmative responses to the 2016 census questions on difficulties with activities of daily living."

Contact information

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