The Canadian Labor Market: Developments, Prospects, and Policy

Eswar Prasad

No 1994/097, IMF Working Papers from International Monetary Fund

Abstract: This paper examines recent developments in the Canadian labor market. Using disaggregated labor market data, various hypotheses concerning the slow employment growth and rise in unemployment since 1990 are evaluated. The analysis indicates that a large part of the recent rise in the unemployment rate may reflect an increase in the structural rather than the cyclical component of unemployment. Various sources of labor market rigidities that may have contributed to the increase in structural unemployment are examined. In particular, the role of the unemployment insurance system in contributing to labor market rigidity and measures for reforming this system, including the recent proposals of the government, are discussed. Finally, this paper examines active labor market policies that could help to alleviate structural unemployment.

Keywords: WP; worker; employment growth; employment-population ratio; unskilled worker; employment probability; unemployment study; employment level; laid-off worker; services employment; employment data; employment rigidity; Employment; Unemployment rate; Unemployment; Labor markets; Labor force; North America; Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36
Date: 1994-08-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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