What it measures
Dimension: Economic security
This indicator reports the proportion of working age Canadians who have been unemployed for more than one year. Long-term unemployment declined steadily between 1994 and 2008, but in the years following the economic crisis of 2008 the percentage of Canadians experiencing long-term unemployment nearly doubled and has stubbornly persisted at that rate since 2010.
Why this matters
Unemployment can lead to financial instability, stress, and decreased self-esteem and, accordingly, may have severe impacts on mental and physical health and overall wellbeing. As such, low rates of long-term unemployment are indicative of population wellbeing.