Work Activity
Definition
Percentage of people in poverty who worked full-time, worked part-time or did not work in the previous year.
‘Work activity” refers to whether or not a person 15 years or over worked during the reference year.
Measurement and Limitations
For those who did work during the reference year, this refers to the number of weeks in which the person worked for pay or in self-employment 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).
‘Worked full time’ includes persons aged 15 years and over who worked full year (49 weeks and over) and mostly full time (30 hours or more per week) in 2020.
‘Worked part time’ includes persons aged 15 years and over who worked full year mostly part time or part year either mostly full time or mostly part time in 2020. Part year is less than 49 weeks and part time is less than 30 hours per week.
‘Did not work’ includes persons aged 15 years and over who never worked, persons who worked prior to 2020 and persons who worked in 2021, but not in 2020 (https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/ref/dict/az/definition-eng.cfm?ID=pop224).
Source
Customized Census data, “EO2877 Table 3 Part 1; EO3246 Table 1 Part 1” acquired through the Canadian Community Economic Development Network’s Community Data Program.
Work Activity in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
8. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. And in too many places, having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. This slow and uneven progress requires us to rethink and retool our economic and social policies aimed at eradicating poverty.
A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress. The creation of quality jobs will remain a major challenge for almost all economies well beyond 2015.
Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment. Job opportunities and decent working conditions are also required for the whole working age population.