Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada

Canada: Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts was 540.95 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
540.95
Change on year
up 161.8%
World rank
8th
of 92 countries
All-time high
581.88
in 1987
All-time low
41.33
in 2008
Years of data
39
1969–2023

Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada, 1969–2023

02004006001969199620231969: 306.81970: 261.71971: 239.61986: 484.31987: 581.91988: 206.81989: 444.71990: 270.51991: 253.31992: 149.91993: 101.81994: 80.91995: 149.21996: 275.81997: 258.11998: 233.61999: 148.32000: 142.72001: 221.22002: 165.62003: 78.92004: 259.22005: 1992006: 42.32008: 41.32009: 67.32010: 57.72011: 91.12012: 137.42013: 205.72014: 80.52015: 428.82016: 44.42017: 206.42018: 86.12019: 108.82021: 289.82022: 206.62023: 541

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada is 540.95, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 161.8% on the previous year and up 162.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada peaked at 581.88 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 41.33, in 2008.

Canada ranks 8th of 92 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada, year by year

Annual values for Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada, 1969 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1969 306.8
1970 261.71 -14.7%
1971 239.63 -8.4%
1986 484.25 +102.1%
1987 581.88 +20.2%
1988 206.8 -64.5%
1989 444.75 +115.1%
1990 270.47 -39.2%
1991 253.33 -6.3%
1992 149.94 -40.8%
1993 101.78 -32.1%
1994 80.86 -20.6%
1995 149.16 +84.5%
1996 275.81 +84.9%
1997 258.11 -6.4%
1998 233.6 -9.5%
1999 148.28 -36.5%
2000 142.67 -3.8%
2001 221.2 +55.0%
2002 165.59 -25.1%
2003 78.92 -52.3%
2004 259.23 +228.5%
2005 199.01 -23.2%
2006 42.31 -78.7%
2008 41.33 -2.3%
2009 67.31 +62.9%
2010 57.73 -14.2%
2011 91.15 +57.9%
2012 137.4 +50.7%
2013 205.73 +49.7%
2014 80.47 -60.9%
2015 428.8 +432.8%
2016 44.39 -89.6%
2017 206.38 +364.9%
2018 86.07 -58.3%
2019 108.81 +26.4%
2021 289.8 +166.3%
2022 206.65 -28.7%
2023 540.95 +161.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 306.8 306.8 306.8 1
1970s 250.67 239.63 261.71 2
1980s 429.42 206.8 581.88 4
1990s 192.13 80.86 275.81 10
2000s 135.29 41.33 259.23 9
2010s 144.69 44.39 428.8 10
2020s 345.8 206.65 540.95 3

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 5 New Caledonia 1,448 compare
  2. 6 Uruguay 1,223 compare
  3. 7 India 579.03 compare
  4. 9 Barbados 530 compare
  5. 10 Isle of Man 445 compare
  6. 11 Germany 417.7 compare

See the full ranking of 92 places →

More work & labour data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada?
Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada was 540.95 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 581.88 in 1987.
What is the lowest number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 41.33 in 2008.
How does Canada rank for number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts?
Canada ranks 8th out of 92 countries with data for 2023.
Is number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 162.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Canada data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-workers-involved-in-strikes-and-lockouts/canada/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-workers-involved-in-strikes-and-lockouts/canada/">Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts in Canada</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Number of workers involved in strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
92 places, 2,281 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

Workers involved in strikes and lockouts represents the number of workers implicated directly or indirectly at any time during a strike or lockout, whether the involvement was for the full duration of the strike or lockout or only part of it. Workers who are unable to work as a result of the secondary effects of strikes or lockouts should not be included. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.