Aggregate Productivity Measures

Detailed information for 1998

The primary goal of this database is to allow for the construction of estimates of multifactor productivity, labour productivity and related measures. This database can also be used to construct other economic performance measures and to examine the structure and conduct of industries.

Data release - January 18, 2000 (revised data)

• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

In the long run, productivity growth is the only way to increase overall living standards. The main purpose of multifactor productivity measures is to separate the observed growth in industrial production into increases in economic resources employed by industries and increases in overall efficiency. On the other hand, partial productivity measures allow us to analyze the impact of input substitution.

Statistical activity

The Canadian System of National Accounts (CSNA) provides a conceptually integrated statistical framework for studying the state and behavior of the Canadian economy. The accounts are centered on the measurement of activities associated with the production of goods and services, the sales of goods and services in final markets, the supporting financial transactions, and the resulting wealth positions.

To produce financial statistics, the CSNA measures the economic dimensions of the public sector of Canada, including the financial inter-relationships among the thousands of entities that make up the three levels of government in Canada (federal, provincial and territorial, and local). In order to carry out this program, the CSNA maintains a universe of all public sector entities including their complex inter-relationships.

• Additional documentation

The Canadian Productivity Accounts (CPA) are responsible for producing, analyzing and disseminating Statistics Canada's official data on productivity and for the production and integration of data on employment, hours worked and capital services consistent with the System of National Economic Accounts. To this end, the CPA comprises three programs. The quarterly program provides current estimates on labour productivity and labour costs at the aggregate level for 15 industry groups. The annual multifactor productivity program provides yearly estimates on multifactor productivity and related measures (output, capital input, labour input and intermediate inputs) as they apply to the major sectors of the economy and to industries at the national and provincial levels (see Productivity Measures and Related Variables - National and Provincial [Annual], record number 1402). Lastly, the annual provincial program, as an integral part of the provincial and territorial economic accounts, provides estimates of employment, hours worked, labour productivity and labour costs at the industry level for each province and territory (see Labour Productivity Measures - Provinces and Territories [Annual], record number 5103).

• Additional documentation

Subjects

• Economic accounts
• Productivity accounts

Data sources and methodology

Instrument design

This methodology does not apply.

Sampling

This methodology does not apply.

Data sources

Data are collected from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

Preliminary estimates are compiled using Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by industry, Labour Income, survey of Employment, Payroll and Hours (SEPH--record number 2612), Labour Force Survey (LFS--record number 3701), the Annual Surveys of Mining, as well as for Manuafacturing industries and Capital Stock data. Final estimates are calculated at a more disaggregated level using complementary data sources such as Input-Output tables and various annual surveys.

Error detection

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Imputation

This methodology does not apply.

Quality evaluation

Data quality is dependent on the quality of source data. Quality ratings are calculated for multifactor and for labour productivity by industry and aggregates from the quality ratings of the current and constant price Input-Output tables. Ratings are published for the latest benchmark year and appears in appendices to the Aggregate Productivity Measures publication.

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.

The Canadian Productivity Accounts use the confidentiality model developed by the Industry Accounts Division. This model uses a method which suppresses sensitive cells.

Data are also suppressed if they have been assigned an unreliable quality rating.