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Signal49 Research is Canada’s foremost independent applied research organization, delivering rigorous, unbiased, evidence-based insights to help Canadians navigate complex challenges. Each year, we publish over 500 research outputs, offering trusted data, forecasts, and analysis to inform decision-making and drive progress.

Our Work

We are an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization guided by the public interest and committed to real-world impact. We create rigorous, evidence-based research that leaders can trust to inform confident decision-making. A proudly Canadian organization, we focus on understanding the country’s most pressing challenges and advancing prosperity and wellbeing for all who live here.

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Latest Research by Topic

Discover the latest data, analysis, and commentary from our economists and researchers on the most urgent issues facing communities, organizations, and the country.

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Index of Consumer Confidence for February 2026

A Gentle Lift in Consumer Mood Against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty, the economy has held up relatively well. Despite business investment softening and trade-sensitive sectors, especially manufacturing, facing clear…

Index of Consumer Spending for December 2025

Stronger November Spending Softens December’s Index of Consumer Spending In this research, we examine consumer spending across all provinces and territories between November and December 2025. Among the provinces, the…

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Canadian Hiring Index for February 2026

Softer Hiring Activity Extends Into January The labour market has entered 2026 on shaky footing. Hiring activity in Canada eased in January, with the hiring index falling by 6.8 points….

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Canadians’ Inflation Expectations for January 2026

Inflation Expectations Were Steady in January Canadians have re-distributed their one-year inflation expectations, with more individuals expecting inflation to increase above 3.0 per cent and fewer individuals expecting inflation to…

Cheaper Gasoline Helped Keep CPI Growth Cool in January

In January, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.3 per cent year-over-year (y/y). This was lower than December’s 2.4 per cent increase. Gasoline prices rose by 0.5 per cent…
Series:GrowthNow

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GrowthNow for November 2025

Challenges Weigh on Economic Activity In this report, we estimate Canada’s GDP growth for the fourth quarter of 2025 using the latest available data. How has the Canadian economy adjusted…

Economic Value of Shingles Vaccination—March 2026

Guarding Health, Driving Productivity: The Economic Value of Shingles Vaccination Healthy aging helps older adults continue contributing to the economy through employment, caregiving, volunteering, and community engagement. Vaccinating against shingles—which…

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Canada’s 20-Year Sectors and Trade Outlook—March 2026

Challenges Ahead on the Trade Front The trade conflict with the United States will be a major drag on Canada’s merchandise export sector in the short term but after 2026,…

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Canada’s 20-Year Business Investment and Energy Outlook—March 2026

Critical Minerals and Renewables Lead the Charge Large-scale projects in critical minerals, energy, and transportation infrastructure will support non-residential business investment through the next decade and beyond. Renewables and nuclear…

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Housing Market Update for February 2026

Wintry weather, worried consumers weigh on housing market This month, we describe persistent softness of the national resale market and a weakening of housing starts. Why are existing housing sales…

Fourth Quarter Contraction Underscores a Weak Year

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.2 per cent in December. For the fourth quarter as a whole, real GDP declined by 0.2 per cent (0.6 per cent annualized). Real…

Following Career Paths to Forecast Skills—February 2026

From Jobs to Journeys: Enhancing Forecasts With the Career Paths and Skill Transformations Model In this research, we delve into the Career Paths and Skill Transformations (CaST) model, which leverages…

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Prince Edward Island’s Travel Markets Outlook—February 2026

Bounce-back in American Tourists to Support Growth in Visitors in 2026 The completion of the expansion of the Charlottetown Airport Terminal, along with a reduction in bridge and ferry tolls,…

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Quebec’s Travel Markets Outlook—February 2026

Overseas Visitors Brighten the Picture In this biannual report, we consider the five-year outlook for Quebec’s tourism industry, forecasting domestic, United States, and overseas tourist activity and focusing on Montréal…

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Ontario’s Travel Markets Outlook—February 2026

U.S. Travel Rebounds as Demographics Constrain Domestic Demand This quarter, we consider the five-year outlook for the tourism industry in Ontario, including domestic, United States, and overseas tourist activity and…

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Yukon’s Travel Markets Outlook—February 2026

Growth Hinges on Pace of U.S. Traveller Rebound Shifting Canadian travel patterns in the wake of changing Canada–United States relations will remain the pre-eminent driver of the tourism outlook for…

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Self-Employment for Neurodivergent Canadians—January 2026

Creating Their Own Path: Unlocking Self-Employment for Neurodivergent Canadians Neurodivergent Canadians continue to face exclusion from or barriers to employment in traditional workspaces, leaving valuable skills underused in the labour…

Strategies to Reduce Workplace Stigma—January 2026

Overcoming Workplace Stigma: Inclusive Strategies for Supporting People Experiencing Disability In this research, we examine the results of employer and employee surveys and findings from interviews with employers, DEI and…

Career Development for Neurodivergent Students—January 2026

Career Development Strategies to Support Neurodivergent Students In this resource for career advisors, we suggest a number of ways to help neurodivergent post-secondary students develop their career, building on our…

Supporting Inclusive Work-Integrated Learning—January 2026

Supporting Inclusive Work-Integrated Learning as an Employer In this resource for employers, we suggest a number of ways to include and support neurodivergent post-secondary students in work placements, building on…
Series:Trade

Rising Unwrought Gold Exports Behind the Trade Balance Improvement

Canada’s merchandise exports increased 2.6 per cent (month-over-month) in December 2025. Meanwhile, imports were up 0.6 per cent. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed from $2.6 billion in…
Series:Trade

Trade Surplus With the U.S. Narrows Significantly in October

Canada’s merchandise exports increased 2.1 per cent (month-over-month) in October 2025. Meanwhile, imports were up 3.4 per cent. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade balance moved from a slight surplus…

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U.S.’s 20-Year Outlook—December 2025

Softer Growth Lies Ahead This online experience examines projections for the U.S. economy until 2045, including demographics and housing, employment, consumer spending and inflation, GDP growth, and trade policy. Economic…
Series:Trade

Gold Shines in Canada’s Trade Turnaround

Canada’s merchandise exports increased 6.3 per cent (month-over-month) in September. Meanwhile, imports were down 4.1 per cent. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade balance moved from a deficit of $6.4…

Public hope for private action: How much does Canada’s budget move the needle on prosperity?

Geopolitical tensions, trade wars and a change in posture from the United States have ushered in new thinking in Canada. The days of being a beneficiary of a reliable, transparent…

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U.S.’s Five-Year Outlook—November 2025

The Slowdown Takes Hold Given the level of uncertainty surrounding global trade policy, our forecast presents a scenario operating under the assumption of a 15.0 per cent effective tariff rate…

Economic Value of Shingles Vaccination—March 2026

Guarding Health, Driving Productivity: The Economic Value of Shingles Vaccination Healthy aging helps older adults continue contributing to the economy through employment, caregiving, volunteering, and community engagement. Vaccinating against shingles—which…

Canada’s Genomics Market Potential—February 2026

Canada’s Genomics Advantage: Domestic strengths and global market potential Genomics has a wide range of applications in the economy. For example, precision medicine enables personalized treatments; high-yield, drought-tolerant seeds increase…

Genomic Profiling for Stage 4 Cancer—November 2025

Precision in Practice: Costs and Benefits of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling for Five Stage 4 Cancers This report evaluates the costs and benefits of comprehensive genomic profiling with next-generation sequencing for…

Retaining Canada’s Healthcare Workforce—August 2025

Retaining Canada’s Healthcare Workforce: Keeping Talented Workers in Our Health Systems—August 2025 This research will examine how healthcare workers move into and within Canada. Through focus groups with representatives from…

Trends in Retaining Skilled Immigrants—November 2025

The Leaky Bucket 2025: Retention Trends in Highly Skilled Immigrants and In-Demand Occupations This latest research builds on the 2024 Leaky Bucket report and confirms that one in five immigrants…

Retaining Canada’s Healthcare Workforce—August 2025

Retaining Canada’s Healthcare Workforce: Keeping Talented Workers in Our Health Systems—August 2025 This research will examine how healthcare workers move into and within Canada. Through focus groups with representatives from…

Leveraging the Skills of Newcomers

Française à suivre Future Skills Centre Podcast: Season 5, Episode 2 Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify All Future Skills Episodes In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast,…

Supporting Indigenous Exporters—October 2025

Gearing Up for Global Exports: Identifying Skills and Promising Practices to Support Indigenous Exporters Indigenous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada continue to be under-represented in global trade due…

Learning from One Another: Skills, Training, and Workforce Development in Northern Communities

Française à suivre Future Skills Centre Podcast: Season 5, Episode 5 Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify All Future Skills Episodes In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast,…

Recruiting and Retaining Indigenous Professionals—July 2025

Insights from Indigenous Executives: Recruitment and Retention in Business, Finance, and Administration Indigenous professionals play a vital role in advancing economic reconciliation and expanding community-driven opportunities, yet they remain considerably…

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Canada’s 20-Year Sectors and Trade Outlook—March 2026

Challenges Ahead on the Trade Front The trade conflict with the United States will be a major drag on Canada’s merchandise export sector in the short term but after 2026,…

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

Canada’s 20-Year Business Investment and Energy Outlook—March 2026

Critical Minerals and Renewables Lead the Charge Large-scale projects in critical minerals, energy, and transportation infrastructure will support non-residential business investment through the next decade and beyond. Renewables and nuclear…

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

Housing Market Update for February 2026

Wintry weather, worried consumers weigh on housing market This month, we describe persistent softness of the national resale market and a weakening of housing starts. Why are existing housing sales…

Fourth Quarter Contraction Underscores a Weak Year

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.2 per cent in December. For the fourth quarter as a whole, real GDP declined by 0.2 per cent (0.6 per cent annualized). Real…

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Industry Lens: Accommodation—February 2026

High Season Ahead Accommodation services output is closely tied to tourism performance. In 2025, Canadians demonstrated notable shifts in their tourism and travel preferences, driven by rising tensions between Canada…

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Industry Lens: Utilities—February 2026

Wired for Change Canada’s utilities sector is entering a transformative period, driven by rising electricity demand, decarbonization policies, and technological change. The shift to a cleaner economy will put growing…

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Employees Perspectives: Work-Life Balance—February 2026

Work to Live: Canadian Employee Perspectives of Work–Life Balance In this research, we analyze Canadian employees’ responses to an open-ended survey question asking them to share what work–life balance means…

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Compensation Planning Outlook Pulse Check—February 2026

Compensation Planning Outlook 2026: Pulse Check This research examines projected salary increases and short-term incentive pay for 2026, based on a fall 2025 survey of 248 Canadian organizations. We compared…
Series:HR Metrics

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HR Metrics Q3—February 2026

HR Metrics Quarterly: Q3 2025 In this research, we provide access to human resources benchmarking data compiled from a total of 163 organizations, representing 691,000 employees, for the third quarter…

Strategies to Reduce Workplace Stigma—January 2026

Overcoming Workplace Stigma: Inclusive Strategies for Supporting People Experiencing Disability In this research, we examine the results of employer and employee surveys and findings from interviews with employers, DEI and…
Series:HR Insights

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HR Insights: Employee Perks Beyond the Paycheque—December 2025

HR Insights: Perks Beyond the Paycheque Workplace perks are no longer just “nice to have.” As organizations face ongoing talent shortages and rising costs, understanding which perks drive the most…

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Case Study Spotlight Series: Total Rewards—November 2025

Case Study Spotlight: An Employee Lens on Total Rewards—Lessons from Wajax Faced with shifts in voluntary turnover, industrial products and services provider Wajax took a closer look at what its…

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Soft Oil Prices Take a Toll on the Books: Our Analysis of the Alberta Budget 2026

The province is forecasting a deficit of $9.4 billion for fiscal year 2026–27, with expected shortfalls of $7.6 billion in 2027–28 and $6.9 billion in 2028–29. These figures are significantly…

Debt to Balloon as Province Attempts to Maintain Core Services: Our Analysis of the British Columbia Budget 2026

British Columbia is anticipating a deficit of $9.6 billion in fiscal year 2025-26. Despite being lower than government projections of $11.2 billion issued in the fall of last year, it…

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Prince Edward Island’s Travel Markets Outlook—February 2026

Bounce-back in American Tourists to Support Growth in Visitors in 2026 The completion of the expansion of the Charlottetown Airport Terminal, along with a reduction in bridge and ferry tolls,…

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

Quebec’s Travel Markets Outlook—February 2026

Overseas Visitors Brighten the Picture In this biannual report, we consider the five-year outlook for Quebec’s tourism industry, forecasting domestic, United States, and overseas tourist activity and focusing on Montréal…

Following Career Paths to Forecast Skills—February 2026

From Jobs to Journeys: Enhancing Forecasts With the Career Paths and Skill Transformations Model In this research, we delve into the Career Paths and Skill Transformations (CaST) model, which leverages…

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

Data Science Skills Trends—January 2026

Work, Recoded: Data Science Skills Trend In this research, we examine online job postings data from our high-frequency labour market data (formerly Vicinity Jobs), the Model of Occupations, Skills and…

Self-Employment for Neurodivergent Canadians—January 2026

Creating Their Own Path: Unlocking Self-Employment for Neurodivergent Canadians Neurodivergent Canadians continue to face exclusion from or barriers to employment in traditional workspaces, leaving valuable skills underused in the labour…

Career Development for Neurodivergent Students—January 2026

Career Development Strategies to Support Neurodivergent Students In this resource for career advisors, we suggest a number of ways to help neurodivergent post-secondary students develop their career, building on our…

Tracking Social Impacts of Canadian Wildfires—December 2025

Canada’s Wildfire Blind Spot: The Missing Data on Social Impacts Discussions around Canadian wildfires often focus on their physical impacts, but overlook their social impacts. This limits the effectiveness of…

Skill Shifts in Canada’s Primary Industries—October 2025

Tech-Driven Skill Shifts in Canada’s Mining and Oil and Gas Industries In this research, we examine how emerging technologies are reshaping work in the mining and oil and gas industries…

Emissions Reduction and Demand for Skilled Trades—August 2025

Building Tomorrow: Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan and Future Demand for Skilled Trades In this research, we examine the potential impact of policies outlined in Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan on…

Employment Impacts of Canada’s Emission Reduction Plan—July 2025

Employment Impacts of Canada’s Emission Reduction Plan This research examines the effect of the federal government’s Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) on Canada’s labour market, using Signal49 Research’s Long-Term Forecasting Model…

Canada’s Genomics Market Potential—February 2026

Canada’s Genomics Advantage: Domestic strengths and global market potential Genomics has a wide range of applications in the economy. For example, precision medicine enables personalized treatments; high-yield, drought-tolerant seeds increase…

AI on the Horizon: February 26, 2026

Canada’s latest AI news on the economy, society, and policy. Canada’s Department of National Defence released its first Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) on dual-use technology, where artificial intelligence continues to…

AI on the Horizon: The Kids are Alright?

Canada’s latest AI news on the economy, society, and policy. We’re back, the calendar’s flipped, and once again there’s one topic no tech conversation seems to be able to avoid:…

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Data Science Skills Trends—January 2026

Work, Recoded: Data Science Skills Trend In this research, we examine online job postings data from our high-frequency labour market data (formerly Vicinity Jobs), the Model of Occupations, Skills and…

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

Housing Market Update for February 2026

Wintry weather, worried consumers weigh on housing market This month, we describe persistent softness of the national resale market and a weakening of housing starts. Why are existing housing sales…

inFact subscribers or purchase required. to access.

Major City Insights: Halifax—January 2026

Slowing demand weighs on growth Which sectors of the area’s economy are feeling the worst effects? How are slower population gains affecting the city’s labour and housing markets? We share…

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Major City Insights: Hamilton—January 2026

Headwinds persist but opportunities emerge This quarter, we examine the effects of headwinds on Hamilton’s economy, including U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and stalled population growth. Which sectors of…

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Major City Insights: Toronto—January 2026

Outlook for Core Industries Remains Bright This quarter, we look at how Toronto’s economy continues to navigate the uncertainty sparked by volatile U.S. trade policies. Which sectors of the area’s…

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Major City Insights: Vancouver—January 2026

Resilience in the face of trade uncertainty This quarter, we look at how persistent housing unaffordability, unfavourable demographics, and a modest Canadian economy are weighing on prospects for Vancouver’s economy….

Impact paper
Understand the long-term implications of policy or program choices. Impact papers combine rigorous research and analysis to project potential outcomes, risks, and benefits, helping decision-makers assess strategic paths with confidence.

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Each publication provides timely data, insights, and analysis to help leaders navigate challenges and make confident, forward-looking decisions.





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