Federal Jurisdiction Workplace Survey

Detailed information for 2008

The objective of the survey is to collect statistical information on working conditions in companies under federal labour code jurisdiction. Survey data will be used by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to analyse the impact on companies of potential changes in the Canadian Labour Code.

Data release - April 7, 2010

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The survey examines attributes such as the number and demographic characteristics of employees, the distribution of occupations, hours of work, pay and benefits, training and expected retirements.

Results from this survey may be used by businesses and trade associations to compare staff working conditions to the average for similar businesses. Government departments and agencies, including HRSDC, use the data to assist in policy formulation, and the academic community may use them for research purposes.

Subjects

• Hours of work and work arrangements
• Industries
• Labour
• Wages, salaries and other earnings
• Workplace organization, innovation, performance

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population for this survey comprises all Canadian companies with employees having at least one establishment under federal labour jurisdiction (i.e. the Canada Labour Code), including all Federal Crown Corporations.

For the purposes of the survey, a company under federal jurisdiction is defined as including a work, business or undertaking:

. operated or carried on for or in connection with navigation and shipping;
. that connects any province or territory with any other, or extends beyond the limits of a province;
. declared by the Parliament of Canada to be for the general advantage of Canada or for the advantage of two or more provinces or territories;
. outside the exclusive legislative authority of the provinces or territories;

Also included are companies which fall under federal law due to their integral relationship with federally regulated operations. If a federal business cannot operate without the services of another business (which otherwise would normally be under provincial law) then that other business is considered federal also.

The Federal Crown Corporations include all those listed in the Public Sector Universe -- Federal Government Business Enterprises frame of Statistics Canada's Public Sector Statistics Division.

Instrument design

The Federal Jurisdiction Workplace Survey questionnaire for 2008 was designed by Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division and the Research and Data Development Division of the Labour Policy and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Branch, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. The questionnaire was tested by the Questionnaire Design Resource Centre. Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division reviewed and revised the questionnaire based on the results of the testing.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

For the 2008 survey, a census was taken of all companies with 100 or more employees and all Federal Crown Corporations.

For the rest of the population, a stratified sampling strategy was used with the following stratification keys:

Nine economic sectors (defined by groups of NAICS codes): air transport; rail transport; road transport; maritime transport; other inter-provincial activities; banks; feed, floor, seed and grain; radio, television, telegraph and cable; and others;

. Four regions: Atlantic; Quebec; Ontario; West including Prairies, Northwest Territories, Nunavut; and British-Columbia and Yukon;

. Four company sizes defined by number of employees: 1 to 5 employees; 6 to 19; 20 to 99; and 100 or more. For the road transportation sector only there was a fifth size category: 1 employee.

A total of 289 strata were created, with a random sample drawn within each.

The sample of companies pre-contacted by telephone comprised a total of 12,000 units.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2009-04-01 to 2009-09-30

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Prior to the start of the collection period for the 2008 survey, all companies in the sample were pre-contacted to determine through a series of filter questions whether they were in-scope for the survey and to identify the contact person best placed to respond to the questionnaire. Since the assessment criteria used to determine whether a company was in scope were different for each sector, the filter questions were specific to the sector. The pre-contact phase was done by computer-assisted telephone interview; data capture for pre-contact was completed by the interviewers during the interview.

Printed questionnaires were then mailed to those companies found to be in scope during the pre-contact phase. Telephone follow-up was undertaken with companies that did not respond within a month. Capture of the completed questionnaires was done electronically.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .

Error detection

A series of edit rules were applied to the captured data during processing. Invalid or inconsistent data were corrected by imputing valid entries. The edit rules used included ratios, equalities and inequalities applied at the micro level during data processing.

The processing phase of the survey was for the most part concerned with applying consistency edits and validity edits to the data reported. Consistency edits ensure that data reported in one question does not contradict information reported in another question. Validity edits ensure that the data reported is valid (i.e. that percentage values reported do not exceed 100%, that values that are supposed to sum up do in fact sum up, that skip patterns are followed, etc.).

Imputation

Imputation was used to replace partially missing data and invalid or inconsistent entries. Imputation was done automatically using the hot deck method with Banff software and other auxiliary data. The average imputation rate was 4.36%

Estimation

Adjustment for non-response was based on the result of the pre-contact and on the final survey result. The adjustment was made at the level of the sample stratum, or at a more aggregated level as required. The estimates and variances were calculated using Statistics Canada's Generalized Estimation System for a stratified sample.

Quality evaluation

Data validation was conducted by Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division and the Research and Data Development group of the Strategic Policy, Analysis and Workplace Directorate, Labour Branch, HRSDC.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which 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.

Aggregated data only is released for this survey. Any cells in the published tables based on fewer than three respondents are suppressed. More stringent confidentiality rules are applied where cells include dominant respondents.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology does not apply to this survey.

Data accuracy

The data accuracy indicators used for the Federal Jurisdiction Workplace Survey are the coefficient of variation (CV) and the standard error (SE). The CV is used for estimates expressed as a number and the SE is used for estimates expressed as a percentage. The CV and SE are included adjacent to the estimates in the published tables.

Data response error may be due to questionnaire design, the characteristics of a question, inability or unwillingness of the respondent to provide correct information, misinterpretation of the questions or definitional problems. These errors are controlled through careful questionnaire design and the use of simple concepts and consistency checks.

For this survey, non-responding records were dealt with by adjusting the weights assigned to the responding records, such that one responding record might also represent other non-responding units with similar characteristics (i.e. size, province, industry) as the responding record.

Non-response error is related to respondents that may refuse to answer, are unable to respond or are too late in reporting. In these cases, data are imputed.

Processing error may occur at various stages of processing such as data entry, editing and tabulation. Measures have been taken to minimize these errors.