Provincial Labour Productivity Growth, 1997 to 2005

Productivity statistics garner much attention because they are key indicators of economic progress. This paper reports on the average growth in provincial labour productivity from 1997 to 2005. It examines how medium-term differences in productivity growth have affected the relative levels of labour productivity in different provinces. The data show that the relative position of most provinces has remained fairly stable over the 1997-to-2005 period when benchmarked against changes in the national average. The notable exception is Newfoundland and Labrador, which experienced much stronger average productivity growth during this period than other provinces. This growth substantially improved its relative labour productivity when evaluated in real terms. The paper also examines the effect that a second factor - changes in the prices received for products - has had on nominal productivity differences between provinces. The data show that the resource-rich provinces of Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador have benefited substantially from higher relative prices.