Figure8-9The Changing Makeup of the Canadian Labour Force, 1946–2011 In the 1960s and 1970s, large numbers of women entered the paid labour force for the first time, and the percentage of women in the force rose rapidly. And the percentage continued to rise in later decades, although not as rapidly. In comparison, the percentage of workers under 25 also rose rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s, as baby boomers came of working age; but instead of continuing to rise, this percentage fell in later years, as the birth rate declined. The natural rate of unemployment may have risen because many of these workers were relatively inexperienced. So job creation could not keep up with the rapid pace of labour force entry. Today, the labour force are much more experienced, which is one possible reason why the natural rate has fallen since the 1970s.
Source: Statistics Canada.
Source: Statistics Canada.