The gap in the average number of hours work exploded during the 1990s: Statistics Canada
Canadians spent less time toiling away on the job than their American counterparts in the 1990s, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada.
It pegged the reason for the gap in hours worked on the sluggish economic growth in Canada relative to the U.S. during much of the last decade.
A historical look at hours worked
The study looked at the number of hours per person, which Statistics Canada defined as the average number of hours worked by the working age population, which includes working and non-working individuals aged 16 to 69.
In 1979, there was little difference in average hours worked per year between Canada and the U.S. Working-age Canadians worked 1,260 hours per year, compared with 1,279 hours for Americans.
Through the 1980s the number of hours grew in both countries. In 1989, Canadian workers put in 1,354 hours compared with 1,380 for Americans.
By 2000, Americans were working 1,455 hours on average during the year — much higher than the 1,332 hours logged by Canadians.
Another measure: Hours per worker
Looking strictly at the number of hours put in by individuals who were employed, Americans are still putting in more hours.
From 1979 to 2000, hours per worker grew 2.2. per cent in Canada from 1,669 to 1706 hours per year. In contract, hours per worker grew 9.6 per cent in the U.S. from 1,707 to 1,871 hours per year.
The female factor
Between 1979 and 1989, both countries experienced comparable growth in average working hours. During this period, average annual hours per person rose 7.9 per cent in the U.S. and 7.5 per cent in Canada.
Hours increased primarily because of a rise in hours supplied by women. American women worked 20.1 per cent more hours in 1989 than in 1979. Canadian women increased their hours by 25.5 per cent during the same period.
Fewer hours, better quality of life?
Statistics Canada speculated that fewer working hours could mean more leisure, less stress and higher quality of life for some.
It may signal that Canadians are retiring earlier, staying in school longer or making different choices about how to allocate family and work time. But it may also signal that there was a shortage of demand for labour and that Canadians did not get all the work hours they wanted.
The numbers in the 1990s seem to indicate that it’s probably the latter, according to Statistics Canada. The fact that the working hours gap arose primarily during the early 1990s suggests the main reason was the relatively deeper recession in the early 1990s in Canada followed by a sluggish recovery.
The sluggish recovery kept Canada’s unemployment rate much higher than the U.S. rate. Statistics Canada said this suggests much of the gap was associated with weaker labour demand rather than a decision by Canadians to pursue more leisure time.
It pegged the reason for the gap in hours worked on the sluggish economic growth in Canada relative to the U.S. during much of the last decade.
A historical look at hours worked
The study looked at the number of hours per person, which Statistics Canada defined as the average number of hours worked by the working age population, which includes working and non-working individuals aged 16 to 69.
In 1979, there was little difference in average hours worked per year between Canada and the U.S. Working-age Canadians worked 1,260 hours per year, compared with 1,279 hours for Americans.
Through the 1980s the number of hours grew in both countries. In 1989, Canadian workers put in 1,354 hours compared with 1,380 for Americans.
By 2000, Americans were working 1,455 hours on average during the year — much higher than the 1,332 hours logged by Canadians.
Another measure: Hours per worker
Looking strictly at the number of hours put in by individuals who were employed, Americans are still putting in more hours.
From 1979 to 2000, hours per worker grew 2.2. per cent in Canada from 1,669 to 1706 hours per year. In contract, hours per worker grew 9.6 per cent in the U.S. from 1,707 to 1,871 hours per year.
The female factor
Between 1979 and 1989, both countries experienced comparable growth in average working hours. During this period, average annual hours per person rose 7.9 per cent in the U.S. and 7.5 per cent in Canada.
Hours increased primarily because of a rise in hours supplied by women. American women worked 20.1 per cent more hours in 1989 than in 1979. Canadian women increased their hours by 25.5 per cent during the same period.
Fewer hours, better quality of life?
Statistics Canada speculated that fewer working hours could mean more leisure, less stress and higher quality of life for some.
It may signal that Canadians are retiring earlier, staying in school longer or making different choices about how to allocate family and work time. But it may also signal that there was a shortage of demand for labour and that Canadians did not get all the work hours they wanted.
The numbers in the 1990s seem to indicate that it’s probably the latter, according to Statistics Canada. The fact that the working hours gap arose primarily during the early 1990s suggests the main reason was the relatively deeper recession in the early 1990s in Canada followed by a sluggish recovery.
The sluggish recovery kept Canada’s unemployment rate much higher than the U.S. rate. Statistics Canada said this suggests much of the gap was associated with weaker labour demand rather than a decision by Canadians to pursue more leisure time.
