Research to Insights: A look at Canada’s economy and society three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Release date: March 9, 2023

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About Research to Insights

The Research to Insights series of presentations features a broad range of findings on selected research topics. Each presentation draws from and integrates evidence from various studies that use innovative and high-quality data and methods to better understand relevant and complex policy issues.

Based on applied research of valuable data, the series is intended to provide decision makers, and Canadians more broadly, a comprehensive and horizontal view of the current economic, social and health issues we face in a changing world.

Three years on…

March 11, 2023, marks three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is still evolving and circulating widely across Canada and many other countries. The Government of Canada (GC) acknowledges that the virus remains a public health emergency of international concern and continues to focus on protecting the health and safety of all Canadians (GC, 2023). To date, 97 million vaccination doses have been administered, but the over 51,000 Canadians who have died from COVID-19 remind us of the true cost of the pandemic (GC, 2023).

The Omicron wave marked a turning point for the pandemic in Canada. Most COVID-19 restrictions were eased or lifted in early 2022, and people began to live with the virus. Today, national transmission indicators and outbreak incidence remain stable, though many of the social impacts of the pandemic, particularly those related to mental health challenges and substance abuse among younger Canadians, may be slow to ease.

Life in Canada, as in other countries, has changed in many ways since the start of the pandemic—some changes were direct impacts of the pandemic, while others were trends that were accelerated by it. Over the past year, Canadian households and businesses have faced a range of challenges. This presentation is the last in a series that has documented the impacts of the pandemic on the lives of Canadians (COVID-19 in Canada: A One-year Update on Social and Economic Impacts and COVID-19 in Canada: A Two-year Update on Social and Economic Impacts). In this edition, we highlight several of the major economic and social trends that continue to impact the lives of Canadians. It includes an overview of recent economic and labour market developments, financial pressures related to inflation and affordability, and trends related to excess mortality and well-being.

For more information: Update on the COVID-19 situation in Canada – January 27, 2023 and COVID-19 epidemiology update: Key updates.

Economic conditions: Economic activity remains resilient as households and businesses adjust to higher borrowing costs

  • Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth has outpaced that of other G7 countries since the second quarter of 2021.
  • Output rose steadily throughout most of 2022, albeit at a slower pace late in the year. As of December, real GDP was 2.7% above pre-pandemic levels.
  • Higher financing costs have weighed on activity in sectors that are sensitive to interest rate changes. Activity at real estate agents and brokers contracted for the tenth consecutive month in December 2022. Residential construction has also pulled back as borrowing costs have risen.
  • According to the Bank of Canada, it typically takes 18 months to two years for changes in the policy interest rate to work their way through the economy.

Chart 1

Data table for chart 1 
Data table for chart 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 1 Gross Domestic Product (LHS) and Bank rate (RHS), calculated using month-over-month percentage growth and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Gross Domestic Product (LHS) Bank rate (RHS)
month-over-month percentage growth percent
2021
June 0.8 0.5
July 0.5 0.5
August 0.6 0.5
September 0.3 0.5
October 0.8 0.5
November 0.5 0.5
December 0.1 0.5
2022
January -0.2 0.5
February 0.7 0.5
March 0.7 0.8
April 0.1 1.3
May 0.2 1.3
June 0.3 1.8
July 0.2 2.8
August 0.2 2.8
September 0.2 3.5
October 0.1 3.5
November 0.1 4.0
December -0.1 4.5
2023
January Note ...: not applicable 4.5

For more information: Understanding how monetary policy works.

Economic conditions: Business entry slows as challenges and uncertainty persist

  • The number of active businesses fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels in late 2021.
  • Business closures have outpaced business openings since the summer of 2022 as borrowing costs have increased. Closures have remained relatively stable since the summer months, while openings in November 2022 fell to their lowest level in over two years.
  • Excluding the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, November 2022 was the first month on record that the number of active businesses did not post positive growth for five consecutive months, as rising inflation, high input costs and labour-related obstacles continue to impact the outlook.
  • Businesses in retail trade and tourism experienced declines in the number of active businesses in recent months.
  • Business insolvencies rose sharply in 2022 as supply chain challenges, inflationary pressures and labour-related obstacles affected many businesses.

Chart 2

Data table for chart 2 
Data table for chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 2 Active businesses (LHS) and Net business openings (RHS), calculated using number of businesses and number of net business openings units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Active businesses (LHS) Net business openings (RHS)
number of businesses number of net business openings
2020
January 905,700 1,056
February 907,917 -1,522
March 873,143 -22,313
April 816,869 -75,035
May 791,352 -28,780
June 800,294 1,334
July 821,070 24,792
August 835,072 21,853
September 852,067 17,357
October 861,301 14,697
November 863,789 6,764
December 878,019 11,797
2021
January 883,896 7,153
February 887,985 4,042
March 893,274 5,228
April 894,192 -1,023
May 892,756 875
June 894,678 146
July 901,784 7,392
August 903,051 1,263
September 904,364 347
October 907,178 3,452
November 912,341 4,768
December 913,622 1,399
2022
January 921,375 6,806
February 921,081 -271
March 922,070 1,208
April 926,306 3,567
May 927,393 1,195
June 928,524 1,185
July 927,691 -1,082
August 927,775 -1,017
September 927,080 -583
October 925,164 -2,719
November 921,116 -6,003

For more information: The Daily — Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, fourth quarter 2022 (statcan.gc.ca).

Labour market conditions: Strong employment growth as elevated vacancies begin to ease

  • Employment has strengthened in recent months, with the number of private sector employees increasing by over one-quarter of a million from September 2022 to January 2023. Employment rates among core-age women and men remained at or near record levels.
  • Total employment in January 2023 was about 800,000 above its pre-COVID-19 baseline. All the net gains since the onset of the pandemic have been in full-time work.
  • Employment growth in the private sector has been driven largely by gains in professional, scientific and technical services, while public administration and health care jobs have bolstered employment in the public sector.

Tight labour market conditions persist as vacancies begin to moderate

  • Job vacancies eased in late 2022 but remain elevated. On a monthly basis, vacancies totaled about 850,000 in December, down from a peak of just over 1 million in May 2022.
  • Vacancies in health care and social assistance have trended higher, reaching about 150,000 in December 2020. Almost half of all health care vacancies in the third quarter, have remained unfilled for 90 days or more, suggesting greater difficulties filling positions.

Chart 3

Data table for chart 3 
Data table for chart 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 3 Public, Private and Self Employed, calculated using thousands of persons units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Public Private Self Employed
thousands of persons
Accommodation and food services Note ...: not applicable -115.4 4.9
Transportation and warehousing 32.3 -54.5 -42.8
Health care and social assistance 146.0 -17.1 -9.9
Public administration 167.6 1.7 Note ...: not applicable
Educational services 87.8 22.3 19.4
Wholesale and retail trade 1.9 47.0 -32.4
Information, culture and recreation -1.4 64.2 -1.5
Manufacturing -0.9 64.9 -6.5
Construction 0.1 132.8 -28.8
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 9.5 164.4 -27.0
Professional, scientific and technical services 3.6 253.7 32.4

Demographic trends: Strategies to mitigate population aging are essential for labour force growth

  • One in five working-age Canadians is set to retire in the coming years. The gap between those about to leave the labour market (55- to 64-year-olds) and those entering the labour market (15- to 24-year-olds) is at record levels.
  • Population aging is now shaping labour market trends, despite the fact that workers are working just as much now as they reach key age milestones. If the age distribution of the working age population had remained constant over the past three years, there would currently be over 330,000 more people in the labour force.
  • Population aging will put more pressure on productivity growth to fuel increases in living standards. Business investment spending is a key contributor to productivity growth.
  • After rising sharply in the early stages of the pandemic, labour productivity declined for seven consecutive quarters, before increasing in the second and third quarters of 2022. Business productivity has just rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, while unit labour costs are 13% above their pre-COVID-19 baseline.

Chart 4

Data table for chart 4 
Data table for chart 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 4 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021, 2026, 2031, 2036, 2041, 2046 and 2051, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).
1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046 2051
number
Historic: 15 to 24 years 3,299,000 4,003,700 4,479,100 4,658,700 4,178,200 3,830,500 3,857,200 4,009,100 4,220,900 4,365,600 4,268,900 4,215,200 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
Projected: 15 to 24 years Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 4,215,200 4,607,000 4,885,600 5,000,200 5,102,400 5,212,800 5,341,300
Historic: 55 to 64 years 1,479,700 1,731,700 1,924,400 2,159,200 2,328,300 2,399,600 2,489,500 2,868,000 3,674,500 4,393,300 4,910,800 5,218,900 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
Projected: 55 to 64 years Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 5,218,900 5,021,900 4,722,000 4,866,500 5,263,000 5,641,800 5,879,600

For more information: People nearing retirement outnumber people old enough to enter the labour market (statcan.gc.ca).

Demographic trends: Immigration will only partially alleviate the impacts of population aging

  • Since early 2020, over 1.2 million permanent and temporary immigrants have come to Canada, accounting for nearly 90% of total population growth.
  • Canada’s population increased by 362,000 in the third quarter of 2022, the highest quarterly population growth rate (+0.9%) since 1957.
  • In the first nine months of 2022, Canada’s total population growth (+776,000 people) had already surpassed the annual growth in any full-year period since Confederation in 1867, with much of this growth resulting from an increase in non-permanent residents.
  • Many newcomers’ skills are underused when entering the labour market in Canada.
  • Most newcomers settle in Canada’s largest cities, which are experiencing deteriorating housing affordability and rising rental prices.

Chart 5

Data table for chart 5 
Data table for chart 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 5 Net immigration, Net non-permanent residents , Natural increase and Total Change, calculated using number of persons units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Net immigration Net non-permanent residents Natural increase Total Change
number of persons
2019 Q1 53,524 30,488 13,699 97,711
Q2 88,356 65,112 24,816 178,284
Q3 95,894 80,013 32,901 208,808
Q4 67,456 15,217 16,290 98,963
2020 Q1 58,867 6,462 11,852 77,181
Q2 32,122 -24,348 13,210 20,984
Q3 41,602 -66,091 24,371 -118
Q4 35,487 -3,151 4,066 36,402
2021 Q1 59,673 14,691 6,559 80,923
Q2 69,799 12,174 20,152 102,125
Q3 117,866 57,767 24,342 199,975
Q4 121,790 -38,851 6,726 89,665
2022 Q1 100,944 29,012 -1,174 128,782
Q2 111,995 157,310 15,677 284,982
Q3 115,468 225,198 21,787 362,453

Converging pressure points: Many economic and social challenges are interrelated

Figure 1

Description for Figure 1

The text in the bubble is, “Over 80% of the growth in the labour force comes from immigration. By 2041, immigrants could account for nearly one-third of Canada’s population, up from a quarter in 2021.”

There are three sub-bubbles pointing to the bubble.

The headline of the first sub-bubble is “Housing challenges.” This is followed by two sub-bullets. The first sub-bullet is, “In 2021, 1 in 10 households were in core housing need.” The second sub-bullet is, “Prior to the pandemic, 56% of recent immigrants were renters, compared with 27% of the total population.”

The headline of the second sub-bubble is “Healthcare strain.” This is followed by two sub-bullets. The first sub-bullet is, “Nursing vacancies in early 2022 were more than triple their level five years earlier.” The second sub-bullet is, “In July, the proportion of nurses working paid overtime was at record levels.”

The headline of the third sub-bubble is “Social cohesion.” This is followed by one sub-bullet. This sub-bullet is, “Nearly half of immigrants believe that Canadians share values on ethnic and cultural diversity, compared with one-quarter of Canadian-born people.”
There is a note below the last sub-bubble. The note is, “Core housing need refers to whether a household’s housing falls below at least one of the indicator thresholds for housing adequacy, affordability or suitability, and the household would have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing.”

Economic challenges: Housing affordability deteriorates as debt levels rise

  • While housing prices are well below peak levels reported in early 2022, the average cost of a home in Canada remains 33%, or $179,000, above pre-pandemic levels.
  • Rising borrowing costs have pushed many potential homeowners out of the market, further straining an already hot rental market. The Bank of Canada’s housing affordability index, which measures how difficult it is to afford a home, has reached its highest point since 1990.
  • Mortgage interest costs have risen 18% in the 12 months to December 2022 and have been a key source of inflationary pressure in recent months.
  • Recent increases in living costs are having a negative impact on net saving and wealth, in particular among households with lower incomes, with lower wealth and in younger age groups.
  • Net saving for the bottom 40% of income earners in the third quarter was down about 12% compared with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while economically vulnerable households also had higher-than-average increases in their debt.

Chart 6

Data table for chart 6 
Data table for chart 6
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 6 Percent and Dollars (appearing as column headers).
Percent Dollars
Canada 32.5 179,400
Greater Vancouver Area 22.7 210,400
Calgary 25.4 105,500
Greater Toronto Area 35.6 290,500
Ottawa 33.0 157,900
Montreal 35.6 134,900
Halifax 58.2 180,600

For more information: Real estate market: Definitions, graphs and data.

Economic challenges: While headline inflation eases, pressures on affordability remain widespread

  • December 2022 marked the 21st consecutive month that headline consumer inflation has been above 3% and the 10th consecutive month above 6%.
  • While headline inflation has eased from 40-year highs, underlying cost of living pressures, in particular around food and shelter, remain elevated as price increases continue to outpace wage growth.
  • Over the course of 2022, there was a sharp rise in the share of grocery spending on food items that have seen yearly price increases of more than 10%, with little relief as headline inflation eased late in the year.
  • In December 2022, grocery items with yearly price increases in the double-digit range accounted for two-thirds of food outlays.
  • For context, grocery prices rose 8.6% from late 2014 to late 2019. They have risen 15.8% between December 2020 and December 2022.

Chart 7

Data table for chart 7 
Data table for chart 7
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 7 3.0% or less, 3.1% to 10.0% and Greater than 10%, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
3.0% or less 3.1% to 10.0% Greater than 10%
percent
2021
January 93.9 5.2 0.9
February 75.5 23.6 0.9
March 75.2 18.5 6.3
April 89.4 10.6 0.0
May 76.7 23.3 0.0
June 62.0 32.9 5.1
July 67.5 30.6 1.9
August 52.5 43.7 3.8
September 44.3 43.7 12.0
October 32.9 59.6 7.5
November 30.7 60.8 8.5
December 19.5 71.2 9.3
2022
January 9.3 71.8 18.8
February 4.3 76.4 19.3
March 6.7 60.6 32.7
April 2.7 59.2 38.1
May 1.5 51.3 47.2
June 2.5 65.1 32.4
July 4.8 55.1 40.1
August 4.6 35.8 59.6
September 4.4 29.6 66.0
October 6.6 44.3 49.1
November 6.5 33.2 60.3
December 4.6 27.9 67.6

For more information: Research to Insights: Consumer price inflation, recent trends and analysis (statcan.gc.ca).

Economic challenges: Financial stress builds as rising prices weigh on family budgets

  • In April 2022, nearly three in four Canadians reported that rising prices were affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses.
  • Three in 10 Canadians were very concerned about whether they could afford housing or rent.
  • About one-quarter of Canadians reported that they have had to borrow money from friends or relatives, take on additional debt, or use credit to meet day-to-day expenses.
  • By late 2022, almost half (44%) of Canadians said they were very concerned with their household’s ability to afford housing or rent.
  • Young adults were among those most concerned over finances, with almost half of 35- to 44‑year-olds saying they found it difficult to meet their financial needs during the previous 12 months.
  • In late 2022, one in four Canadians said they were unable to cover an unexpected expense of $500. This level rises to more than one-third among 35- to 44-year-olds.

Chart 8

Data table for chart 8 
Data table for chart 8
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 8 Spring 2022 and Fall 2022, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Spring 2022 Fall 2022
percent
Food 66 76
GasolineData table for chart 8 Note  67 44
Housing or rent 30 44

Social impacts: Impacts on well-being and mental health persist, in particular among young Canadians

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the personal well-being of Canadians. Self-reported mental health declined sharply during the pandemic, especially among younger Canadians.
  • In late 2021, about 6 in 10 working-age Canadians reported having a strong sense of meaning and purpose—indicating that they felt strongly that the things they do in life are worthwhile.
  • Nearly two-thirds of seniors aged 65 to 74 reported having a strong sense of meaning and purpose, while just over half of 15- to 24-year-olds reported the same.
  • Over the past two years, older adults were far more likely than younger Canadians to report high levels of perceived well-being based on a range of quality-of-life indicators. About 4 in 10 of 65- to 84-year-olds reported high well-being scores, compared with one-quarter of 20- to 29‑year-olds.

Chart 9

Data table for chart 9 
Data table for chart 9
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 9 Men and Women, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Men Women
percent
15 to 24 years 50 55
25 to 34 years 48 58
35 to 44 years 55 63
45 to 54 years 61 61
55 to 64 years 61 65
65 to 74 years 65 65
75 years and older 61 64

Social challenges: Alcohol and drug use during the pandemic contributes to excess mortality among younger Canadians

  • While COVID-19 has been a main driver of excess deaths overall, other factors are also driving excess mortality, in particular among younger Canadians.
  • Deaths attributed to alcohol and drug use increased to new highs during the pandemic.
  • Provisional data at the national level show that the number of deaths attributed to accidental poisoning and overdoses was 4,605 in 2020 and 6,310 in 2021, and these numbers are expected to increase with future revisions to the data.
  • In comparison, at the previous height of the overdose crisis in 2017, 4,830 deaths were attributed to unintentional poisonings.
  • Younger age groups made up a disproportionate number of deaths from overdoses. Among individuals aged younger than 45 years, there were 2,640 accidental poisoning deaths in 2020 and 3,600 in 2021.

Chart 10

Data table for chart 10 
Data table for chart 10
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 10 Excess deaths and COVID-19 deaths, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Excess deaths COVID-19 deaths
percent
0 to 44 years 12.4 2.4
45 to 64 years 16.7 12.2
65 to 84 years 40.0 40.2
85 years and older 30.8 45.2

Summary

  • Economic resilience: Economy-wide output has increased in 16 of the last 18 months and, in December 2022, was 2.7% above pre-pandemic levels. While output growth moderated in late 2022, employment strengthened into early 2023 as the unemployment rate remained near a record low. Employment rates for core-aged workers are well above their pre-pandemic baseline.
  • Pressures on affordability: While headline inflation eased in the second half of 2022, key sources of upward price pressure—including food and shelter—showed little sign of moderating. While home prices have fallen considerably from peak levels, housing affordability has deteriorated as mortgage interest costs have risen.
  • Newcomers bolster population growth: In the third quarter of 2022, Canada posted the largest population growth rate (+0.9%) since the late 1950s. Population growth in recent quarters has reflected large increases in non-permanent residents, along with high levels of immigration. Non-permanent residents have also contributed substantially to employment gains in recent months.
  • Persistent social impacts: Self-reported well-being and mental health were adversely affected by the pandemic, especially among young Canadians. From March 2020 to October 2022, there were 7.9% more deaths than expected had a pandemic not occurred. While COVID 19 has been a main driver of excess deaths overall, other factors have also been driving excess mortality, in particular among younger Canadians.
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For more information, please contact
analyticalstudies@statcan.gc.ca

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