Evidence of meeting #80 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think with your indulgence we'll get back on topic and we'll deal with facts related to the survey the professionals from Statistics Canada have brought to us today, rather than speculating on stuff.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
Hold on a second, Mr. Butt. There's a point of order and I hadn't been paying attention exactly to what you were saying.
Go ahead, Mr. Cleary.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
I was paying attention to what he was saying, Mr. Chair, and I think the remark he made about getting back on topic was out of line. There's no need for that when we have guests here—
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
—and we're trying to have a reasonable discussion and ask reasonable questions.
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
I'm told it's not a point of order, but in any event, Mr. Butt, if you can get to—
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you, ladies, for being here. It's very much appreciated.
Is it a general trend that more people 65 and older are continuing to engage in the workforce, whether it's full time, part time, or on contract?
We're starting to see a higher percentage of the population 65 and older who are working. Have you any more specifics around that? Do you have any idea of why those trends are moving in that direction? You have some of it in here, but is it more because people are simply deciding that they want to continue to work longer? Is that the main reason why we're seeing a higher participation of people 65-plus in the workforce?
11:20 a.m.
Director General, Education, Labour and Income Statistics Branch, Statistics Canada
We don't ask the reason why that is. However, we could provide extra information. Given that the sample size was reliable enough, we could try to provide some detail on the industry or occupation, to try to see what kinds of jobs...or who the workers are who are working longer. We could try to see if we have an adequate sample size.
11:25 a.m.
Tracey Leesti Director, Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada
Over the last four or five years, we have seen, with the labour force survey, an increase in the 55-plus population. We know that is in part because of employment growth, but we know it's also in part a demographic factor; people are just flipping into that age category. So it is, in part, both of those.
As Sylvie said, we could try to get you more information, given that the sample size for 55-plus, and maybe 65-plus, might be sufficient to get you some more occupation and industry information.
11:25 a.m.
Conservative
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Do you survey at all people who are out of the workforce for whatever reason? Let's say at 50 they lose a job they've been doing. They're out of the workforce for a couple years, but then they re-enter. Are you doing any surveying of those people who are 50-plus and re-entering the workforce, and what impact that is having? Are you doing any surveying on that, and what are some of the results you're seeing there?
11:25 a.m.
Director, Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada
With the labour force survey, we don't specifically ask them about re-entering. They can come back in if they choose. For example, they may not be a part of the workforce in one month, but if they do re-enter, they would show up as becoming employed. We don't necessarily get the fact that they've left and re-entered. Specifically, we don't ask questions.
Diane is referring to the GSS. I will let her speak about that.
11:25 a.m.
Section Chief, Current Labour Analysis and Perspectives on Labour and Income, Statistics Canada
We have the general social survey of 2002, which asked the question, “Why did you come back?”, and 22% of those who retired the first time did come back. It was in 2002 and the question was not asked again.
The reason people said they came back was because they didn't like retirement. They liked working and they wanted to give something back to society. For some of them, it was for financial reasons.
We can provide the tables if you want.
11:25 a.m.
Conservative
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
I think that would be interesting, even though it's from 2002.
11:25 a.m.
Section Chief, Current Labour Analysis and Perspectives on Labour and Income, Statistics Canada
I think it was part of an article.
11:25 a.m.
Conservative
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Constituents I talk to and who come in and see me say there is this issue about them re-entering or there's a downsizing in a business they work for, but they're not ready to retire yet. It would be nice to see us drill down a little bit more on those opportunities for individuals, what they are doing and how they're returning. Are they returning on contract work, or are they becoming self-employed?
I had a gentleman in my office last week and that's the route he's taking. He is going to offer his expertise as a consultant, because he had worked for a large insurance company for many years. They had downsized. He's doing that. It would be kind of neat to know what the dynamics of re-entering the workforce are for people in that age group.
They're not ready to retire for whatever reason. You've mentioned many reasons, and many just want to keep working. They have lots to give. They're young. People are living longer, and retiring at 60 or 65 is just not on for a lot of people. They would rather keep engaged in the workforce.
My last question, Mr. Chairman—I know we're running out of time—is in regard to surveying employers. How much is that done, and have you done any surveying of employers to get some of their trends and attitudes around this demographic shift in the age of workers, and of their attitude towards employing people who may have never worked for them but now they're ready to hire somebody who is 55?
Have you been able to do any surveying around that or get any labour market information from the employer perspective about their views of older workers?
11:25 a.m.
Director, Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada
We do have an employer survey, but we don't collect that type of information. We did have a project, which came to its natural end—I think it was in 2008—called the workplace employee survey that touched on that a little bit more, but we haven't done that since.
11:25 a.m.
Conservative
May 7th, 2013 / 11:25 a.m.
Director, Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada
I'll have to go back and see what we have, if we can pull anything out.
11:25 a.m.
Conservative