The Longitudinal and International Study of Adults (LISA) aims to improve our understanding of what is happening in the lives of Canadians, so that we can see what services are suitable for them and what kinds of information is needed to support decision-making today and in the future.
Respondents will answer questions that are part of a longitudinal study about how people's lives change over time. These questions will be related to education and training, family, health, income and employment.
The data from this study will provide a better understanding of our society. The results will be important in influencing the way all levels of government develop effective policies and provide services and programs to better meet the challenges of our society and economy in the 21st century. Researchers, educators, learning institutions and organizations will also be using the data to understand the needs of Canadians in our evolving society.
The information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.
Collection period:
Collection methods:
In-person interview
Survey participation:
Voluntary
Confidentiality
Statistics Canada will use the information from this study for statistical purposes only. Statistics Canada is prohibited, by law, from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, household, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Furthermore, this information cannot be released under any other law, not even the Access to Information Act.
Data sharing agreements and record linkage
To reduce the length of the interview and enhance the information you provided in this study, Statistics Canada plans to combine the information you provide with information we already have from other surveys or administrative data sources like the tax, pension plan, and immigration databases, where applicable.
These linkages will take place at Statistics Canada and will be done only by Statistics Canada employees who are authorized to work with these data.
All data, including linked data, will be used for statistical purposes only and will remain confidential and protected under the Statistics Act.
Topics covered in the survey
LISA is designed to gather information over time on the adult population's labour market, learning, training and family experiences. LISA contributes to our understanding of the causality and associations between major life experiences and their impact on the educational, employment and financial outcomes of Canadians.
The survey asks questions about
- education and training (current and past)
- labour market activities and job characteristics (current and over the last two years)
- income, pensions and finances
- life after retirement and retirement planning
- economic well-being
- families
- relationship status (current and past)
- caregiving
- health
- life satisfaction
- work schedules
- homelessness.
Published data
Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.
Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.
Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.
Survey-specific questions
- What is LISA?
- What is the purpose of this study?
- Who is surveyed?
- Why and how was my household selected to participate in this study?
- When will the study results be available?
- Who uses the study information and how will this information be used?
- Where can I find more information about the study?
What is LISA?
The Longitudinal and International Study of Adults (LISA) is a household study that collects data every two years from people aged 15 years and older. LISA tracks over time the relationships between people's education, working lives and overall well-being.
LISA is conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada to provide updates to information we began collecting in 2011. LISA is a unique study because of its longitudinal design. Because respondents have been providing information since 2011, it is possible to observe changes that have occurred in the lives of Canadians, and the circumstances that led to these changes.
LISA is composed of two parts. The first part is the interview, which collects information about education, work, health, life events, pensions and finances. For the second part, these data are linked to administrative data like tax, pension plan and immigration data, where applicable. The survey data provided by respondents give context to some of the information from the other data sources.
What is the purpose of this study?
The goal of LISA is to help improve education, employment, training, and social services for Canadians. The data collected from your household and other households will provide policy-makers and analysts with statistical information on the decisions made by Canadians that impact their health and social well-being, and what programs and policies might support positive changes in Canadian society.
Who is surveyed?
Approximately 12,000 households located in the ten provinces participate in LISA. LISA selects more than one eligible person per household to be interviewed.
Why and how was my household selected to participate in this study?
It would be very expensive, and not very practical, to interview every household in Canada. Instead, Statistics Canada uses a statistical method called sampling. It is an established way to determine characteristics of an entire population with the answers from a randomly chosen sample. To ensure that the sample remains an accurate reflection of the population as a whole, study results from all sampled households must be collected.
When LISA was first started in 2011, telephone numbers were randomly selected from a list of phone numbers we had at Statistics Canada to select people for the study. All households with a telephone in the ten provinces that were on the list had a chance of being selected. During this process, you or members of your household were randomly selected to take part. Because this is a longitudinal study, which is a study that collects information on the same persons over time, you have been automatically selected for a follow-up interview.
When will the study results be available?
The results from LISA for 2020 will be available in 2022. You can also consult the "Published data" section for more data and analysis information.
Who uses the study information and how will this information be used?
The data from LISA will be used by various levels of government and non-governmental organizations to identify and better understand issues to do with education, work, and well-being that people face every day and how they impact the future of these individuals and their families.
LISA data will influence which economic and social programs are launched by all levels of government, and will help researchers, schools and universities, employment assistance agencies, and non-governmental organizations better understand the impact of these programs.
For example, although Statistics Canada obtains information from other surveys about older workers, or young adults and their employment patterns, or entrepreneurs and small businesses, with LISA we can learn why these patterns exist:
- Do the right tools (education, training) exist to help Canadians obtain the jobs they seek?
- Who chooses to work in various jobs across Canada, and under what circumstances?
- Did a government funded program achieve its purpose? If not, how can we improve it?
- What challenges or gaps exist that hinder a Canadian's ability to go to school/work/retire when they want to do so?
- What health concerns or life events negatively impact a person's life, and to what extent? Can we recommend adjustments to current policies to accommodate these realities?
Where can I find more information about the study?
For more information about LISA, contact us.
Information about the study is also available on Statistics Canada's website.