Statistics Canada: Digital platform worker initiatives
Statistics Canada is pursuing a number of initiatives to continue to respond to and measure the evolving dynamics of the Canadian labour market, particularly those brought about by the digitalisation of the economy and the proliferation of online labour platforms.
In 2017, Statistics Canada released survey-based employment estimates on the ‘gig’ economy including the number of providers of peer-to-peer ride hailing services in Canada. More recently, Statistics Canada published historical estimates on the number of gig workers based on tax information.
On behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada, Statistics Canada is currently conducting a qualitative study to learn more about online platform employment, particularly about the profile, motivation and working conditions of digital platform workers in Canada. This particular research focusses exclusively on online platform workers whose jobs, projects or tasks are delivered online.
Looking forward, Statistics Canada will play a leading role in modifying international standards for measuring forms of employment, including online platform employment, to ensure that new and changing work arrangements are reflected.
Statistics Canada was pleased to find out that the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group is contributing to the analysis of microtask work and look forward to continuing a dialogue to promote the release of statistical information on this segment of the working population for various jurisdictions.
Related reports
Recent Statcan study measuring gig employment using tax data >
Using data from the Canadian Employer-Employee Dynamic Database and the 2016 Census of Population, a new study found that the share of gig workers among all Canadian workers aged 15 and older increased from almost 1 million workers (5.5%) in 2005 to about 1.7 million workers (8.2%) in 2016.
– Statistics Canada, Measuring the gig economy in Canada using administrative data
COLLEEN (Collaborative Economy and Employment) survey conducted in Europe on platform workers >
Estimates indicate that on average 10% of the adult population has used online platforms for the provision of some type of labour services. However, less than 8% do this kind of work with some frequency, and less than 6% spend a significant amount of time on it (at least 10 hours per week) or earn a significant amount of income (at least 25% of the total).
– Pesole, A., Urzí Brancati, M.C, Fernández-Macías, E., Biagi, F., González Vázquez, I, Platform Workers in Europe: Evidence from the COLLEEM Survey
US survey from the Bureau of Labour Statistics on platform work >
These are May 2017 estimates of electronically mediated workers as recoded by BLS. The estimates include all people who did electronically mediated work, whether for their main job, a second job, or additional work for pay.
– U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
Statistics Canada | February 2020
- TWIG’s microwork library - February 29, 2020
- Statistics Canada: Digital platform worker initiatives - February 18, 2020
- City of Toronto: Inclusive economic development - February 11, 2020
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