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  2. Unemployment Duration

Indicators of Well-being in Canada


Work - Unemployment Duration

Status

  1. Employment Rate
  2. Weekly Earnings
  3. Weekly Hours Worked

Life events

  1. Strikes and Lockouts
  2. Unemployment Duration
  3. Unemployment Rate
  4. Work-related Injuries

Key influences

  1. Unionization Rates
Definition and Methodology | Display High Contrast Charts

Relevance

The transition from one job to another can be stressful. The longer an individual has been out of work, the fewer financial resources are available to meet personal and family needs.

Summary

  • National Picture — In 2011, jobless Canadians who were looking for work or on temporary layoff remained unemployed for 21.1 consecutive weeks on average.
  • Gender — In 2011, men remained unemployed slightly longer than women. The length of unemployment averaged 22.6 weeks for men and 19.2 weeks for women.
  • Age — In 2011, workers aged between 55-64 remained unemployed longer (35.2 weeks) than other age groups.
  • Regions — In 2011, the average length of unemployment ranged from 13.7 weeks in Prince Edward Island to 23.2 weeks in Quebec. 

National Picture

The average duration of unemployment decreased from 26.5 weeks in 1997 to 14.8 weeks in 2008. However, with the financial crisis, the average duration of unemployment increased to 21.1 weeks in 2011.


This Chart contains data for Unemployment duration, Canada, 1997-2011. Information is available in table below 2011 = 21.1 2010 = 20.0 2009 = 17.1 2008 = 14.8 2007 = 15.5 2006 = 16.6 2005 = 17.1 2004 = 16.9 2003 = 17.8 2002 = 18.3 2001 = 17.9 2000 = 19.8 1999 = 22.3 1998 = 24.0 1997 = 26.5 (consecutive weeks) Unemployment duration, Canada, 1997-2011

Source: Statistics Canada. Labour force survey estimates (LFS), duration of unemployment by sex and age group, annual (CANSIM Table 282-0048). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Unemployment duration, Canada, 1997-2011 (consecutive weeks)
199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
26.524.022.319.817.918.317.816.917.116.615.514.817.120.021.1

Gender

There was a significant decline in the average duration of unemployment for both men and women between 1997 and 2011. However, the average duration was consistently higher for men than for women. For men, the average duration of unemployment decreased from 28.8 weeks to 22.6 weeks. For women, the duration decreased from 23.6 weeks to 19.2 weeks.


This Chart contains data for Unemployment duration, by gender, 1997-2011. Information is available in table below 2011 (Men) = 22.6 2010 (Men) = 21.0 2009 (Men) = 17.8 2008 (Men) = 16.1 2007 (Men) = 16.6 2006 (Men) = 17.4 2005 (Men) = 17.8 2004 (Men) = 18.0 2003 (Men) = 19.2 2002 (Men) = 19.4 2001 (Men) = 19.3 2000 (Men) = 21.3 1999 (Men) = 24.5 1998 (Men) = 25.6 1997 (Men) = 28.8 2011 (Women) = 19.2 2010 (Women) = 18.8 2009 (Women) = 16.1 2008 (Women) = 13.2 2007 (Women) = 14.1 2006 (Women) = 15.8 2005 (Women) = 16.3 2004 (Women) = 15.5 2003 (Women) = 16.0 2002 (Women) = 16.8 2001 (Women) = 16.2 2000 (Women) = 18.1 1999 (Women) = 19.6 1998 (Women) = 22.0 1997 (Women) = 23.6 (consecutive weeks) Unemployment duration, by gender, 1997-2011

Source: Statistics Canada. Labour force survey estimates (LFS), duration of unemployment by sex and age group, annual (CANSIM Table 282-0048). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Unemployment duration, by gender, 1997-2011 (consecutive weeks)
199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011
Men28.825.624.521.319.319.419.218.017.817.416.616.117.821.022.6
Women23.622.019.618.116.216.816.015.516.315.814.113.216.118.819.2

Age

In 2011, the average length of unemployment was the lowest for youth aged 15 to 24 (11.2 weeks) and the highest for unemployed individuals aged from 55 to 64 (35.2 weeks). 


This Chart contains data for Unemployment duration, by age, 2011. Information is available in table below 65+ years = 27.0 55-64 years = 35.2 25-54 years = 22.9 15-24 years = 11.2 (consecutive weeks) Unemployment duration, by age, 2011

Source: Statistics Canada. Labour force survey estimates (LFS), duration of unemployment by sex and age group, annual (CANSIM Table 282-0048). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Unemployment duration, by age, 2011 (consecutive weeks)
15-24 years25-54 years55-64 years65+ years
11.222.935.227.0

Regions

In 2011, residents of Prince Edward Island remained unemployed for the shortest amount of time, averaging 13.7 weeks. Workers in Quebec and Ontario experienced the longest duration of unemployment (23.2 and 22.1 consecutive weeks, respectively).


This Chart contains data for Unemployment duration, by region, 2011. Information is available in table below BC = 21.1 AB = 16.8 SK = 16.2 MB = 15.4 ON = 22.1 QC = 23.2 NB = 17.9 NS = 18.3 PE = 13.7 NL = 17.3 CAN = 21.1 (consecutive weeks) Unemployment duration, by region, 2011

Source: Statistics Canada. Labour force survey estimates (LFS), duration of unemployment by sex and age group, annual (CANSIM Table 282-0048). Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2012.


Warning: This data table may contain very wide content. Horizontal scrolling may be necessary.

Unemployment duration, by region, 2011 (consecutive weeks)
CANNLPENSNBQCONMBSKABBC
21.117.313.718.317.923.222.115.416.216.821.1

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Date Modified:
2013-05-25