Last week, Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland announced that certain “fiscal guardrails will help [the government] establish when the stimulus will be wound down.” One of these indicators – total hours worked – is particularly fitted to account for under-employment in sectors, such as the arts, that include a large proportion of self-employed workers
Actual hours worked in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector fell 10.5% in November. They were down 35.2% compared to last year at the same period.
In order to provide a detailed picture of job losses in the arts, culture and heritage sub-sectors during the COVID-19 crisis, CAPACOA licenced access to custom employment statistics from Statistics Canada. These statistics are from the Labour Force Survey, a monthly survey of approximately 56,000 households. They provide an account of employment for full-time, part-time and occasional employees, as well as self-employed workers.
From this month on, we will be producing an additional table for actual hours worked across the Canadian economy. This will enable us to monitor the loss or gains in the arts sector and in other sectors impacted by the pandemic.
Focus on actual hours worked
- Across all industries, total actual hours worked increased 2.7% in November. They were still 3.5% below pre-COVID level, that is last year at the same period.
- Four sectors were still more than 10% away from recovery (see table 3.B, below):
- Transportation and warehousing: -11.3%
- Business, building and other support services: -11.7%
- Accommodation and food services: -26.0%
- Arts, entertainment and recreation: -35.2%
- Total hours worked in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector [71] decreased 10.5% in November.
- Within the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, performing arts, spectator sports and related industries [711] were by far the furthest away from recovery: -45.3%
Continued workforce losses in the arts sector
- For the third consecutive month, employment fell by more than 10% in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector [71] in November. 10.3%, more precisely.
- Employment in the sector is now 27.9% lower than last year at the same period.
- Total labour force participation declined at a faster rate (-13.9%) than employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector [71] in November. This is an indicator that people who had lost their job during previous periods are no longer actively looking for work in this sector.
Focus on live performance industries
- Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries [711] lost 3,900 more jobs in November (-3.7%). This is the fourth consecutive monthly decrease. Employment in the sub-sector is now 8.0% below the first wave of the pandemic (April) and 31.0% lower than a year ago.
- The total labour force count continued to close the gap on employment level. Total performing arts, spectator sports and related industries [711] labour force participation decreased 8.8% in November. This is more than twice as much as the decrease in employment (3,7 %). Total labour force participation was 27.9% lower than a year ago at the same period (compared to 31.0% for employment). In other words, 45,000 live performance workers have lost their job since November 2019. Of these, 41,400 were either no longer actively looking for work or else they had found a job in other industries. In light of these statistics, live performance organizations are now at very high risks of facing a shortage of skilled workers when in-person events resume.
- Total actual hours worked in performing arts, spectator sports and related industries [711] dropped 8.6% in November. For the first time since the first wave, average hours also went down. On average, employed persons worked 21.7 hour per week in November (compared to 22.9 hours in October).
- Performing arts companies [7111] remain the hardest hit among the hardest hit industries. Data for this industry group is now getting so sparse that it isn’t quite as reliable as it usually is, so the following figures must be interpreted with caution. After a sharp drop in October, employment in performing arts companies stabilized in November. Roughly 7 in 10 (-73%) performing arts workers had lost their job in November compared to last year at the same period. Labour force participation however continued to fall and is now nearly as low (-70%) as employment.
Table 1 – Labour force estimates (x 1,000) by selected industry, Canada, unadjusted for seasonality
| Industry (with NAICS classification) | Labour force, Nov. 2020 (x 1,000) | c. previous month (x1,000) | c. previous month (%) | Nov. 2020 c. Nov. 2019 (x 1,000) | Nov. 2020 c. Nov. 2019 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total, all industries | 20229.8 | -58 | -0.3% | 23.6 | 0.1% |
| 51, 71 Information, culture and recreation 1 | 731.4 | -67.6 | -8.5% | -36.2 | -4.7% |
| 51 Information and cultural industries | 387.7 | -12.1 | -3.0% | 56.2 | 17.0% |
| 511 Publishing industries (except internet) | 66 | -3 | -4.3% | 3.1 | 4.9% |
| 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries | 94.7 | 1.4 | 1.5% | 8.8 | 10.2% |
| 515 Broadcasting (except internet) | 35.5 | -1.7 | -4.6% | 3.9 | 12.3% |
| 517 Telecommunications | 149.9 | -7.9 | -5.0% | 43.1 | 40.4% |
| 518 Data processing, hosting, and related services 3 | x | x | x | x | x |
| 519 Other information services 2 | 34.5 | -1.8 | -5.0% | 6.2 | 21.9% |
| 71 Arts, entertainment and recreation | 343.7 | -55.5 | -13.9% | -92.4 | -21.2% |
| 711 Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries | 110.1 | -10.6 | -8.8% | -41.4 | -27.3% |
| 7111 Performing arts companies 2 | 13.6 | -2 | -12.8% | -31.3 | -69.7% |
| 7112 Spectator sports 2 | 6.3 | -2.8 | -30.8% | -12.2 | -65.9% |
| 7113 Promoters (presenters) of performing arts, sports and similar events 2 | 10.4 | -0.7 | -6.3% | -1 | -8.8% |
| 7114 Agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers and other public figures 3 | x | x | x | x | x |
| 7115 Independent artists, writers and performers | 76.5 | -5.8 | -7.0% | 3.4 | 4.7% |
| 712 Heritage institutions | 29.8 | -1.7 | -5.4% | 1.6 | 5.7% |
| 713 Amusement, gambling and recreation industries | 203.8 | -43.3 | -17.5% | -52.7 | -20.5% |
Table 2 – Employment estimates (x 1,000), by selected industries, Canada, unadjusted for seasonality
| Industry (with NAICS classification) | Employment, Nov. 2020 (x 1,000) | c. previous month (x1,000) | c. previous month (%) | Nov. 2020 c. Nov. 2019 (x 1,000) | Nov. 2020 c. Nov. 2019 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total, all industries | 18617.1 | -19.8 | -0.1% | -486.2 | -2.5% |
| 51, 71 Information, culture and recreation 1 | 663.3 | -42.1 | -6.0% | -61.7 | -8.5% |
| 51 Information and cultural industries | 371.6 | -8.6 | -2.3% | 51 | 15.9% |
| 511 Publishing industries (except internet) | 64.4 | -2.3 | -3.4% | 3.3 | 5.4% |
| 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries | 88.7 | 2.4 | 2.8% | 10 | 12.7% |
| 515 Broadcasting (except internet) | 34.7 | -1.8 | -4.9% | 3.5 | 11.2% |
| 517 Telecommunications | 145.3 | -7.3 | -4.8% | 39.6 | 37.5% |
| 518 Data processing, hosting, and related services 3 | x | x | x | x | x |
| 519 Other information services 2 | 31.5 | -0.4 | -1.3% | 3.2 | 11.3% |
| 71 Arts, entertainment and recreation | 291.7 | -33.5 | -10.3% | -112.7 | -27.9% |
| 711 Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries | 100.2 | -3.9 | -3.7% | -45 | -31.0% |
| 7111 Performing arts companies 2 | 11.7 | 1.2 | 11.4% | -32.1 | -73.3% |
| 7112 Spectator sports 3 | x | x | x | x | x |
| 7113 Promoters (presenters) of performing arts, sports and similar events 3 | x | x | x | x | x |
| 7114 Agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers and other public figures 3 | x | x | x | x | x |
| 7115 Independent artists, writers and performers | 71.5 | -5.6 | -7.3% | 1.8 | 2.6% |
| 712 Heritage institutions | 26.6 | -3.1 | -10.4% | 1.6 | 6.4% |
| 713 Amusement, gambling and recreation industries | 164.9 | -26.4 | -13.8% | -69.3 | -29.6% |
Table 3.A – Total actual hours worked estimates (x 1,000), arts and culture industries, Canada, unadjusted for seasonality
| Industry (with NAICS classification) | Total actual hours (x 1,000), Nov. 2020 | c. previous month (%) | Nov. 2020 c. Nov. 2019 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total, all industries | 585825.5 | 2.7% | -3.5% |
| 51, 71 Information, culture and recreation 1 | 19615.5 | -3.0% | -8.0% |
| 51 Information and cultural industries | 12813.2 | 1.5% | 18.4% |
| 511 Publishing industries (except internet) | 2142.1 | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries | 3116 | 7.0% | 12.1% |
| 515 Broadcasting (except internet) 2 | 1251 | -0.7% | 20.0% |
| 517 Telecommunications | 5207.8 | -1.0% | 38.4% |
| 518 Data processing, hosting, and related services 3 | x | x | x |
| 519 Other information services 2 | 863.3 | -2.3% | 27.5% |
| 71 Arts, entertainment and recreation | 6802.3 | -10.5% | -35.2% |
| 711 Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries | 2177.7 | -8.6% | -45.3% |
| 7111 Performing arts companies 3 | x | x | x |
| 7112 Spectator sports 3 | x | x | x |
| 7113 Promoters (presenters) of performing arts, sports and similar events 3 | x | x | x |
| 7114 Agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers and other public figures 3 | x | x | x |
| 7115 Independent artists, writers and performers | 1444.8 | -12.5% | -19.8% |
| 712 Heritage institutions 2 | 795.5 | -10.8% | -1.4% |
| 713 Amusement, gambling and recreation industries | 3829.1 | -11.4% | -32.8% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, by selected industries, Canada, unadjusted for seasonality, November 2020. Calculations and data reliability notes by CAPACOA. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Table 3.B – Total actual hours worked estimates (x 1,000), other industries, Canada, unadjusted for seasonality
| Industry (with NAICS classification) | Total actual hours (x 1,000), Nov. 2020 | c. previous month (%) | Nov. 2020 c. Nov. 2019 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total employed, all industries | 585825.5 | 2.7% | -3.5% |
| Agriculture | 11277.4 | -5.2% | -6.1% |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas | 12151.8 | 4.3% | 1.4% |
| Utilities | 4876.5 | -2.1% | 1.3% |
| Construction | 50758 | 1.7% | -4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 61651.7 | 5.1% | 0.7% |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 84842.9 | 4.5% | -3.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 33180.3 | 4.9% | -11.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 40359.4 | 3.7% | 1.3% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 54093.1 | 6.3% | 1.7% |
| Business, building and other support services | 19960.5 | -1.8% | -11.7% |
| Educational services | 42510.7 | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 73605.9 | 4.6% | 0.7% |
| Information, culture and recreation | 19615.5 | -3.0% | -8.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 23398.5 | -6.7% | -26.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 22707 | 4.8% | -7.4% |
| Public administration | 30836.3 | -1.8% | -0.9% |
Notes
- This series aggregates two distinct sectors. Statistics Canada aggregates culture industries in such a way in order to ensure data quality at small geographic levels. This aggregated series is included in order to enable some degree of comparisons with data tables published by Statistics Canada. The aggregation was performed by CAPACOA and no coefficient of variation for this series was provided by Statistics Canada. However, the aggregated data is presumed to be reliable because the coefficient of variation for each sector is very low.
- The sample for this series is small. Month-to-month variations in this series should be interpreted with caution.
- The sample for this series is very small. Data is unreliable and unsuited for release.
Additional notes about the Labour Force Survey
- “Labour force” estimates are the number of persons 15 years of age and over who, during the reference week, were employed or unemployed. “Unemployed” means persons who were without work, had looked for work in the past four weeks, and were available for work. Unemployed persons retain the NAICS industry classification of their previous job.
- “Employment” includes full-time, part-time and occasional employees, as well as self-employed workers who worked during the reference week, no matter how many hours. Certain sub-sectors that include a large proportion of self-employed workers, for example, independent artists may therefore not show a significant drop because those freelance workers may still have been considered “working”.
- “Total actual hours worked” is a good indicator of the impacts of COVID-related restrictions on the labour force, because it offers an account of both the number of employed workers and the hours they worked. It is a particularly relevant indicator for sub-sectors that include a lot of freelance and occasional workers (and who may be deemed as “employed” even if they only worked a few hours during the reference period).
- These statistics are not adjusted for seasonality (whereas many Statistics Canada tables are). Many culture industries are subject to significant seasonal variations. In order to have a fair estimation of employment change compared to pre-COVID level, it is therefore preferable to establish comparisons with the same period in 2019 rather than with February 2020.
- The “711 Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries” sub-sector is a larger industry grouping than the “Live Performance” domain used in the Culture Satellite Account, but it is a fair proxy that can be tracked over time. The 711 sub-sector involves activities that aren’t part of the live performance domain such as 7112 Spectator sports, as well as parts of 7113, 7114 and 7115. Definitions for each industry group are available in the North American Industry Classification System 2017. More details on the mapping between NAICS 711 and the live performance domain can be found in the Classification Guide for the Canadian Framework for Culture Statistics 2011.
- Equivalent employment statistics for other sectors of the Canadian economy can be found in Table 14-10-0022-01 Labour force characteristics by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality and in Table 14-10-0036-01 Actual hours worked by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality.
More information
More statistics from the Labour Force Survey in The Daily
Employment in arts and culture industries, October 2020
Prepared by: Frédéric Julien, Director of Research and Development.
Erratum: The employment data series for broadcasting was initially incorrect, but it was revised on January 15, 2021.
Ru Serious
I have problems with believing all of this data, why??? I work as a stage hand (IATSE Local 471) at the National Art Centre in Ottawa and since March16/2020 until today, Jan 03/2021, I have worked a total of 20 hrs, yes, you read that correctly, TWENTY HOURS!!! So I don’t know where you get your info, but it’s wrong.Do your research before publishing such rubbish (being polite)!!!
The NAC has been, is and will be closed for a long time because of Covid . As usual, we, who put shows together backstage, do sound and lights are being forgotten. We were the first industry to be shut down and most likely, we will be the last to go back to any normalcy. In Ottawa, the NAC is not the only venue that we “NORMALLY” work at, the Canadian Tire Centre, The Civic Centre, Landsdown Park, just to name a few, who have been closed, so our sources of revenue have been cut to NOTHING, 0% and have to rely strictly on the monies offered by the Government (EI, CEIRB, CRB…)It helps, but in my situation it’s a third of my normal salary. Again, I wonder how you came to these figures???
CAPACOA
Sadly, statistics are incapable of providing accounts of individual stories. On the contrary, they take individual stories and they average them out into a single figure that is attempting to provide an account of a given situation within an entire sector. At least, these employment statistics have the benefit of demonstrating that the arts, entertainment and recreation sector has had a harder time than any other sector since the beginning of the pandemic. By making these statistics readily available, we are hoping that all levels of government will provide adapted support to the sector as it undertakes a long and slow recovery. Take heart.
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