Report on the Labour Force Participation of Seniors and Near Seniors, and Intergenerational Relations

Discrimination on the basis of age that makes assumptions about capacity; removes decision-making process; ignores older person’s known wishes; and treats the older adult as a child.Footnote 64

A age group of individuals born during the demographic birth boom between 1946 and 1964.

Community characteristics affecting its ability to identify, mobilize, and address problems.Footnote 65 

The changing composition of Canada’s population which reflects a shift to an older population with seniors accounting for an ever-increasing proportion of the population.Footnote 66 

The total demographic dependency ratio is the ratio of the combined youth population (0 to 19 years) and senior population (65 or older) to the working-age population (20 to 64 years). It is typically expressed as the number of ‘dependents’ for every 100 ‘workers’.Footnote 67 In 2009, there were 4.7 persons aged 20-64 for every senior. By 2050, it is projected there will only be 2.5.

Management occupations and occupations usually requiring university or college education.

The labour force participation rate for a particular group (age, sex, marital status, geographic area, etc.) is the total labour force in that group, expressed as a percentage of the total population, in that particular group.Footnote 68 

Occupations usually requiring secondary school or on-the-job training.

An individual between the ages of 55 to 64.

An individual over the age of 55 who is employed or seeking employment.

A concept of standard of living that includes material and non-material well-being.Footnote 69 

Refers to a person who is aged 55 and over, is not in the labour force and receives 50% or more of his or her total income from retirement-like sources. Retirement-like sources include the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, benefits from the Canada Pension Plan or the Québec Pension Plan, investment and dividends and retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities.Footnote 70 

An individual aged 65 or over.

Relationships between community members including trust, reciprocity, and civic engagement.Footnote 71 

Describes the strength and quantity of social connections; social trust; membership and participation in organizations; and social solidarity.Footnote 72 

Refers to the web of social relationships that surround individuals. Social support is one of the important functions of social networks.Footnote 73 

Proportion of the Labour force aged 15 and over (and for youths, aged 15 to 24 years) who did not have a job during the reference period.Footnote 74 The labour force consists of people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but were available to work in the reference period and had looked for work in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate is a traditional measure of the economy. Unemployed people tend to experience more health problems.