Economic and Social Reports
In the works

February 25, 2026

Firm size and labour productivity growth in Canadian residential construction

by Aled ab Iorwerth, Wulong Gu and Jenny Watt

Canada has experienced relatively low productivity growth in the construction sector over the last several decades. This study examines the evolution of labour productivity in residential construction from 2001 to 2023 by using firm-level data from the National Accounts Longitudinal Microdata File. In addition to providing statistics on labour productivity growth, the study decomposes the growth in labour productivity by firm size (by number of employees), and province, showing which types of firms contribute to aggregate growth. It also provides statistics on labour productivity growth for some large census metropolitan areas.

Economic outcomes of provincial nominees: Differences between express entry and non-express entry

by Max Stick, Feng Hou and Garnett Picot

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has two primary aims: (1) to better distribute economic immigrants across the country and (2) to address specific economic needs of the provinces and territories. In 2015, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced the Express Entry (EE) system to manage applications for federal economic immigration streams, and some PNP applicants are screened through the EE system. Understanding the differences in human capital characteristics and labour market outcomes between EE provincial nominees (enhanced PNs) and regular (base) PNs can inform policy discussions regarding potential ways of improving the PNP and the coordination between federal and provincial immigration programs. The objective of this study is to examine whether enhanced PNs have better labour market outcomes than base PNs. The analysis focuses on PNP PAs and their spouses and dependants admitted from 2016 to 2024.

National and provincial retention of graduates from health degree programs in Canada

by Youjin Choi and Feng Hou

A shortage of health care professionals, especially family doctors and nurses, has been a widespread concern from coast to coast to coast. Few studies have examined recent trends in the retention of health care professionals. In particular, questions remain about whether outmigration pressures exert influence and how retention varies across specialties and regions. This article aims to examine health graduates’ retention in Canada and in their province of study during the first few years after completing Canadian postsecondary programs, relying on data from the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS) and T1 Family File (T1FF). The analysis focuses on Canadian and international graduates from health degree programs (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees) at provincially-funded universities and colleges in Canada from 2010 to 2021.

The educational pathways of first-generation postsecondary students

by Landry Kuate, Amélie Lafrance-Cooke and Jenny Watt

This study examines the educational pathways and outcomes of first-generation postsecondary students—students whose parents did not complete postsecondary education (PSE)—relative to non-first-generation students. Using descriptive statistics, this article leverages a unique integrated dataset formed by 2006 Census data and the Postsecondary Student Information System to examine (1) enrolment rates, (2) the graduation and persistence rates per enrolled cohorts from 2010/2011 to 2015/2016, and (3) the students’ time to graduation.

Estimates of gross domestic product by gender: an update to the 2022 report

by Jenny Watt and Hassan Faryaar

This study provides a partial update to a 2022 report on the contribution of women to gross domestic product. Using firm-level data from the Canadian Employee-Employer Dynamics Database, it estimates and examines the contribution to the components of GDP (capital income, labour income, and mixed income), and the contribution to GDP by sector. This update covers the period from 2013 to 2022, which allows it to add to evidence on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s participation in the market economy.

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This schedule is subject to change.