Local Labor Markets in Canada and the United States

David Albouy, Alex Chernoff, Chandler Lutz and Casey Warman

Staff Working Papers from Bank of Canada

Abstract: We examine local labor markets in the United States and Canada from 1990 to 2011 using comparable household and business data. Wage levels and inequality rise with city population in both countries, albeit less in Canada. Neither country saw wage levels converge despite contrasting migration patterns from/to high-wage areas. Local labor demand shifts raise nominal wages similarly, although in Canada they attract immigrant and highly skilled workers more, while raising housing costs less. Chinese import competition had a weaker negative impact on manufacturing employment in Canada. These results are consistent with Canada’s more redistributive transfer system and larger, moreeducated immigrant workforce.

Keywords: Labour; markets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J31 J61 N32 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 63 pages
Date: 2019-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Local Labor Markets in Canada and the United States (2019)
Chapter: Local Labor Markets in Canada and the United States (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bca:bocawp:19-12

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