Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Work activity during the reference year

Definition

Work activity during the reference year refers to whether or not a person 15 years or over worked during the reference year. For those who did work, this refers to the number of weeks in which the person worked for pay or in self-employment during the reference year at all jobs held, even if only for a few hours, and whether these weeks were mostly full time (30 hours or more per week) or mostly part time (less than 30 hours per week).

Statistical unit(s)

• Person 15 years or over

Classification(s)

• Full-time or part-time weeks worked during the reference year
• Weeks worked during the reference year
• Work activity during the reference year

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986 and 1981 (20% sample). For availability prior to 1981, please refer to Appendix 2.1.

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over in private households

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 43, 54a) and 55a)

Responses

Did not work for pay or in self-employment in 2020 (worked before 2020 or never worked)

Did not work for pay or in self-employment in 2020 (worked in 2021)

Worked for pay or in self-employment in 2020:

1 to 13 weeks mostly full-time paid work

1 to 13 weeks mostly part-time paid work

14 to 26 weeks mostly full-time paid work

14 to 26 weeks mostly part-time paid work

27 to 39 weeks mostly full-time paid work

27 to 39 weeks mostly part-time paid work

40 to 48 weeks mostly full-time paid work

40 to 48 weeks mostly part-time paid work

49 to 52 weeks mostly full-time paid work

49 to 52 weeks mostly part-time paid work

Remarks

The term 'full-year, full-time workers' refers to persons aged 15 years and over who worked 49 to 52 weeks mostly full time in 2020 for pay or in self-employment.

For more information, see the definitions for Weeks worked during the reference year and Full-time or part-time weeks worked during the reference year variables.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001)
• Census Program Data Viewer (CPDV) (98-507-X2021001)
• Employment income by occupation, major field of study and highest level of education: Canada (98-10-0412-01)
• Employment income statistics by Indigenous identity and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0427-01)
• Employment income statistics by industry sectors, Indigenous identity, highest level of education, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0588-01)
• Employment income statistics by occupation minor group, immigrant status and period of immigration, highest level of education, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0585-01)
• Employment income statistics by occupation minor group, Indigenous identity, highest level of education, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0587-01)
• Employment income statistics by occupation minor group, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0452-01)
• Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, visible minority, highest level of education, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0586-01)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by first official language spoken, income, work activity during the reference year and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0312-01)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by mother tongue, income, work activity during the reference year and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0311-01)
• Knowledge of official languages by income statistics, highest level of education, immigrant status and period of immigration and work activity during the reference year: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0365-01)
• Place of work status by industry sector, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions of work (98-10-0491-01)
• Place of work status by industry sector, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts of work (98-10-0492-01)
• Place of work status by industry sectors, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0469-01)
• Place of work status by industry sectors, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts (98-10-0470-01)
• Place of work status by occupation broad category, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0471-01)
• Place of work status by occupation broad category, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions of work (98-10-0493-01)
• Place of work status by occupation broad category, work activity, age and gender: Census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts (98-10-0472-01)
• Place of work status by occupation broad category, work activity, age and gender: Census metropolitan areas, tracted census agglomerations and census tracts of work (98-10-0494-01)