Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)

Detailed information for 1993 to 1997 (wave 5)

Status:

Inactive

Frequency:

Annual

Record number:

3889

At the heart of the survey's objectives is the understanding of the economic well-being of Canadians: what economic shifts do individuals and families live through, and how does it vary with changes in their paid work, family make-up, receipt of government transfers or other factors? The survey's longitudinal dimension makes it possible to see such concurrent and often related events.

Data release - September 1, 1999

Description

The Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics complements traditional survey data on labour market activity and income with an additional dimension: the changes experienced by individuals over time. At the heart of the survey's objectives is the understanding of the economic well-being of Canadians: what economic shifts do individuals and families live through, and how does it vary with changes in their paid work, family make-up, receipt of government transfers or other factors? The survey's longitudinal dimension makes it possible to see such concurrent and often related events.

SLID is the first Canadian household survey to provide national data on the fluctuations in income that a typical family or individual experiences over time which gives greater insight on the nature and extent of poverty in Canada. Added to the longitudinal aspect are the "traditional" cross-sectional data: the primary Canadian source for income data and providing additional content to data collected by the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

Particularly in SLID, the focus extends from static measures (cross-sectional) to the whole range of transitions, durations, and repeat occurrences (longitudinal) of people's financial and work situations. Since their family situation, education, and demographic background may play a role, the survey has extensive information on these topics as well.

The survey data are used by federal (Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Finance, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation , etc. ) and provincial departments to formulate social policies and programs. Non-government organizations (Canadian Council on Learning, Child Welfare Associations , etc. ), private consultant firms and academics also use SLID data to do research to support their positions and to lobby governments for social changes. Individuals and families can use the data to compare their earnings and income situations with those of similar types of family compositions.

Reference period: Calendar year

Collection period: Two weeks in January and two weeks in May (exact timing will depend on LFS dates)

Subjects

  • Families, households and housing
  • Household, family and personal income
  • Income, pensions, spending and wealth
  • Labour
  • Low income and inequality

Data sources and methodology

Target population

All individuals in Canada, excluding residents of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, residents of institutions and persons living on Indian reserves. Overall, these exclusions amount to less than 3 percent of the population.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a longitudinal design.

A panel of 20,000 households is introduced every three years. Each panel will stay in the sample for six years. All persons in households selected when a panel is introduced will remain in-sample, even if there are changes in household composition or residence. Those persons living with an original respondant will also be surveyed. Every person will be contacted for a preliminary interview when a panel is introduced. After this, every person will be contacted twice each year - in January for labour data and in May for income data.

Estimation

Weighted (survey sampling weight).

Quality evaluation

The survey results are compared with other data sources that include: administrative databases, census and other Statistics Canada surveys.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data that would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Suppression rules:

Suppression rules, or data reliability cutoffs, are currently established based on the sample size that underlies the estimate. In general, a sample size of 25 observations is required for the estimate to be published. Depending on the type of estimate, this rule can vary slightly. These rules help protect the confidentiality of survey respondents and ensure the reliability of estimates. (Please see the "additional documentation".)

Data accuracy

Response Rates: 1996 - 85.5%, 1997 - 83.6%

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