Revisions to the Labour Force Survey, 2001 to 2014

Released: 2015-01-28

Statistics Canada has an established history of applying a standard revision to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates following the release of postcensal population estimates from each census of population.

This revision includes an update of the LFS estimates to reflect the most recent population estimates; an update of geographic boundaries; methodological enhancements to imputation; as well as an update of seasonal adjustment. These revised LFS estimates are now available for 2001 to 2014.

Up to December 2014, labour force estimates had been based on data from the 2006 Census of Population. Starting with today's release, all estimates are now based on the 2011 Census of Population counts. In general, population estimates based on the 2011 Census have been revised slightly downward. As a result, the LFS population aged 15 and older has been revised downward by 0.3% or 73,000 for December 2014. This is similar to the size of the previous revision in 2011.

At the national level, the rates of employment, unemployment and participation were little changed from the unrevised rates. For example, the national unemployment rate in December 2014 was 6.7%, a difference of 0.1 percentage points from the unrevised rate of 6.6%.

Like the population estimates, levels of employment have been revised downward. For December 2014, overall employment was revised down 0.6%, mostly the result of lower population estimates for men aged 25 to 54.

Provincially, employment levels in December 2014 were revised downward by 1% or more in British Columbia (-2.7%), Manitoba (-1.6%), Prince Edward Island (-1.2%) and Ontario (-1.0%). The only upward revision greater than 1% was for Newfoundland and Labrador (+3.6%).

There was a general shift downward in the number of workers employed in educational services; public administration; professional, scientific and technical services; as well as finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. At the same time, there was a general shift upward in the number of workers employed in construction, accommodation and food services as well as 'other services.'

By class of worker, employment was revised downward in the public sector, while there was little change in the number of private sector employees and the number of self-employed.

The article "The 2015 Revisions of the Labour Force Survey (LFS)," as part of Improvements to the Labour Force Survey (Catalogue number71F0031X), is now available from the Browse by key resource module of our website under Publications.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720; jeannine.usalcas@statcan.gc.ca) or Jason Gilmore (613-951-7118; jason.gilmore@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.