Canadian Job Stability Patterns in the Post-Great Recession Period

with Xiaoxue Li

Abstract:

This paper examines how job stability has evolved since the Great Recession using the Canadian Labour Force Survey, a rich source of tenure data. We find that jobs have become more stable, particularly for women and low tenure jobs. Rising educational attainment (but not ageing of the workforce) appears to play a role in explaining some of the new job stability patterns. Contrary to the findings for the U.S. labour market, job-to-job transitions are not key to our findings. Instead it is changes in the employment to non-employment transition, particularly to unemployment, that matters for low tenured jobs and it is employer driven.

Working Paper, January 2026