Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) - A Survey Overview

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This overview for the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) provides information on the purpose, content, methodology and products and services pertaining to SLID. Its HTML, menu-driven format enables users to discover all main elements of the survey in one, easy-to-use document. This publication was designed for survey respondents, users of SLID data, researchers and analysts, and individuals who would like to learn more about the survey.

The SLID is an important source for income data for Canadian families, households and individuals. Introduced in 1993, SLID provides an added dimension to traditional surveys on labour market activity and income: the changes experienced by individuals and families through time. At the heart of the survey's objectives is the understanding of the economic well-being of Canadians. SLID also provides information on a broad selection of human capital variables, labour force experiences and demographic characteristics such as education, family relationships and household composition. Its breadth of content, combined with a relatively large sample, makes it a unique and valuable dataset.

Users now have free access to the 202 CANSIM Series tables. Tables are accessible using a PC or Mac via the web browser.

Information by format

([B] = Bilingual; see "Bilingual products" below )

Content note

The SLID sample is composed of two panels of respondents who are surveyed annually for a six-year period. Each panel consists of roughly 15,000 households and about 30,000 adults. A new panel is introduced every three years, so two panels always overlap. The survey's longitudinal dimension allows evaluation of concurrent and often related events, which yields greater insight on the nature and extent of low-income in Canada: What socio-economic shifts do individuals and families live through? How do these shifts vary with changes in their paid work, family make-up, receipt of government transfers and other factors? What proportion of households are persistently living in low-income year after year, and what makes it possible for others to emerge from periods of low income?

SLID also provides information on a broad selection of human capital variables, labour force experiences and demographic characteristics such as education, family relationships and household composition. Its breadth of content, combined with a relatively large sample, makes it a unique and valuable dataset.

Subjects

Keywords

computer-assisted telephone interviews, earnings, economic families, families, government transfer payments, handbooks, household income, human capital, longitudinal surveys, low income cutoffs, research methods, survey methodology, taxes, technical products.

Free access

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Bilingual products

Some bilingual products have changed to separate English and French products. In these cases, back issues are bilingual and the more recent issues are unilingual.

Contacts

For more information about our products or services, please contact us.
85400 - Income Statistics Division
Client services - Income Statistics Division 613-951-7355 (income@statcan.gc.ca)