Economic and Social Reports, May 2025

Released: 2025-05-28

There are five new articles available in today's release of Economic and Social Reports.

Over three-quarters of Canadians feel neutral or warm towards people whether they share similar political views or not

Studies have shown that socially cohesive societies are healthier, more resilient to crises, and experience higher economic growth and well-being. Despite the existence of several survey questions on relationships with individuals in a close-knit group (e.g., family, friends, coworkers, neighbours), there are fewer measures that deal with relationships with people outside respondents' own groups (e.g., groups with different identities, views, values or customs). The study "Unity in Canada: Experimental measures of feelings towards people with similar or different views," examines six experimental questions about how respondents feel about other people in terms of whether they hold similar or different views to their own on politics, racism, and gender identity.

The largest share of respondents (32%) expressed neutral feelings towards both people with similar political views and those with different political views. Another 27% of respondents expressed warm feelings towards people with similar views as well as those with different views on politics. Few respondents (2%) who had very warm feelings towards people with similar political views also had very cold feelings towards people with different political views. However, results also showed that more people expressed very warm in-group and very cold out-group feelings based on people's views on racism (24%) and gender identity (15%).

These findings may reflect longstanding differences across social groups or more recent societal shifts in values. Recognizing how diverging views shape people's feelings towards each other seeks to enhance insights into societal unity in Canada.

Canadians' future outlook on society

National unity is a fundamental building block of cohesive societies. The study "Hopefulness about Canadian society," examines new questions on Canadians' future outlook on society, a quality-of-life indicator that represents individuals' opportunity for prosperity.

In April 2024, more than 8 in 10 (82%) respondents were hopeful about unity among Canadians, with similar proportions being hopeful about the way democracy works in Canada (83%) and economic opportunities in Canada (75%). The nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents who felt warm to very warm towards Canadians in general reported higher hopefulness about unity among Canadians, economic opportunities in Canada, and the way democracy works in Canada.

However, economic, health or social disparities were tied to lower hopefulness about unity among Canadians. Respondents facing financial difficulties, reporting poorer health, or having experienced discrimination typically reported lower hopefulness about unity among Canadians.

Though these data predate the recent challenges between Canada and the United States, they serve as a useful baseline for Canadians' sense of national unity and their societal outlook.

Jobs in industries dependent on US demand for Canadian exports are generally of high quality

Trade tensions between Canada and the United States (Canada's largest trading partner), which began in early 2025, have raised concerns about workers in industries dependent on US demand for Canadian exports (IDUSCEX). While it is challenging to estimate the number of job losses that may be associated with US tariffs, the study "Job quality in industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports," describes the quality of jobs at risk of being affected by a decline in US demand for Canadian products.

In 2023 and 2024, average hourly wages in IDUSCEX ($36.92) were higher than in industries not dependent on US demand for Canadian exports, excluding educational services, health care and social assistance, and public administration ($33.16). Hourly wages in IDUSCEX ranged from almost $60.00 in pipeline transportation, and oil and gas extraction, to below $30.00 in clothing and leather and allied product manufacturing; textile mills and textile product mills; fishing, hunting and trapping; and truck transportation. Workers in IDUSCEX were also more likely to hold: full-time permanent jobs (90.1% vs. 75.8%); unionized jobs (21.0% vs. 16.2%), and jobs with employer-sponsored pension plans (39.1% vs. 27.9%). These findings imply that, for the most part, potential layoffs in IDUSCEX would involve high quality jobs that may be challenging to replace.

Recent developments in the Canadian economy

The article "Recent developments in the Canadian economy: Spring 2025," provides an integrated summary of recent economic developments, highlighting key movements in the economic data during late 2024 and early 2025. The article focuses on how economic conditions have changed as households and businesses began adjusting to ongoing uncertainty over Canada's trading relationship with the United States. It also highlights long-term trends related to Canada's economic resilience and the potential exposure to major shifts in Canada-US economic relations.

Use of housing by immigrants and non-permanent residents

Understanding the housing use of immigrants and non-permanent residents (NPRs) is essential for developing effective housing policies and urban planning strategies. The joint study by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Statistics Canada, Industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports "Housing use of immigrants and non-permanent residents in ownership and rental markets," uses 2021 Census of Population data to estimate housing unit occupancy rates—defined as the number of dwellings per 1,000 people—for immigrants and NPRs.

The results show that immigrants exhibit higher housing occupancy rates than Canadian-born individuals. On average, immigrants occupy 310 owned units and 151 rental units per 1,000 people, totalling 461 housing units—compared to 397 housing units for Canadian-born individuals. NPRs, in contrast, occupy 41 owned units and 316 rental units per 1,000 people, for a total of 357 housing units.

As immigrants spend more time in Canada, their reliance on the rental market decreases and homeownership increases. In their initial years after admission, immigrants have lower housing occupancy rates than Canadian-born individuals. Over time, however, their housing occupancy rises significantly, driven by a substantial growth in homeownership—underscoring the lasting impact of immigration on the ownership market.

These estimates can help anticipate shifts in total housing demand under different immigration and NPR population scenarios.

Products

The May 2025 issue of Economic and Social Reports, Vol. 5, no. 05 (Catalogue number36280001), is now available. This issue contains the articles "Hopefulness about Canadian society," "Job quality in industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports," "Housing use of immigrants and non-permanent residents in ownership and rental markets," "Unity in Canada: Experimental measures of feelings towards people with similar or different views," and "Recent developments in the Canadian economy: Spring 2025."

Contact information

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