Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Usual work hours of employed person, category

Usual work hours refers to the employed person's normal paid or contract hours, not counting any overtime. For the self-employed, including unpaid family workers, usual work hours refers to the number of hours usually worked by the person in a typical week, regardless of whether he or she was paid.

Employed person refers to those who, during the reference period, had a labour force status of 'employed'. That is, those who, during the reference period:

(a) Did any work at all at a job or business, that is, paid work in the context of an employer-employee relationship, or self-employment. This also includes persons who did unpaid family work, which is defined as unpaid work contributing directly to the operation of a farm, business or professional practice owned and operated by a related member of the same household; or

(b) Had a job but were not at work due to factors such as their own illness or disability, personal or family responsibilities, vacation or a labour dispute. This category excludes persons not at work because they were on layoff or between casual jobs, and those who did not then have a job (even if they had a job to start at a future date).

The data for this variable are reported using the following classifications and/or lists:

• Usual Weekly Work Hours