Participation rates, Canada and the United States

A higher proportion of Canadians than Americans is participating in the labour market

• For both 2002 and 2003, Canadians were more likely than Americans to be participating in the labour market. By 2003, a record high proportion of working-age Canadians (67.7%) was either employed or unemployed, compared with 66.2% of Americans. This higher Canadian participation rate is due to stronger employment growth in Canada than in the United States since 2001.
• While labour market participation has trended up in Canada since 1996, a declining proportion of Americans participated in the labour market since 2001, after peaking at 67.1% through 1997 to 2000.
• American men and women aged 16 to 54 years all showed declines in their respective participation rates from 2000 to 2003, but youth and men were the hardest hit. On the other hand, older workers aged 55 and over showed increases, particularly older women. The participation rates of Canadian men and women of all ages increased from 1996 to 2003.

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