The Labour Force Survey (LFS) The first LFS was conducted in 2000 and since then it has been undertaken on a six-monthly basis in March and September each year.

Every year about half a million people help us by taking part in our studies. No-one has to take part if they do not want to, but for us to paint an accurate picture of our society, it is vital that we interview as many people as possible, from all walks of life.

All Canadian households must complete a Census of Population questionnaire. If Statistics Canada contacts you for the Labour Force Survey, a business survey or an agricultural survey, you are also obligated to participate pursuant to the Statistics Act. For other Statistics Canada surveys, participation is voluntary.

Frictional unemployment involves people transitioning between jobs; it has nothing to do with the economic cycle and is voluntary. Structural unemployment is a direct result of shifts in the economy, including changes in technology or declines in an industry.

Household labour force survey (HLFS) statistics include detailed descriptions of people by categories like employment, unemployment, underutilisation, and outside the labour force. Regular HLFS reports are also produced about: working-age population. income and labour force statistics.

In Canada, Statistics Canada releases the official monthly employment and unemployment figures from the LFS household labour force survey. The official national estimates of unemployment for these countries both come from their household labour force surveys.