Research opportunities

Research Data Centres (RDCs) provide researchers with approved projects access to Statistics Canada detailed microdata from some population and household surveys in a secure university setting. Researchers working at RDCs are subject to the same confidentiality rules, under the Statistics Act, as are Statistics Canada employees.

Remote Data Access (RDA) enables researchers to write and test their own computer programs, using a synthetic data file. These programs are then sent to Statistics Canada, via the internet, where they are run on the authentic microdata file. The output must then be verified to ensure that it adheres to Statistics Canada's confidentiality protocols before it is released to the researchers. This initiative is only available for selected surveys.

The Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) offers Canadian universities and colleges access to Statistics Canada public-use microdata files for the purposes of academic teaching and research.

The Tom Symons Research Fellowship Program is designed to encourage and assist a limited number of academic researchers who wish to do empirical social science research studies at Statistics Canada using the master versions of micro-data files. The program is aimed primarily at PhD candidates, although it also includes post doctoral researchers on occasion. Research conducted under the program can be in most social science areas, including sociology, demography, criminology, education, labour economics, productivity and economic performance, national accounts, business finance and other areas. Researchers are provided the unique opportunity to address public policy relevant questions and complex methodological issues using a wide range of Statistics Canada micro-data files at Statistics Canada in Ottawa. They will have access to Statistics Canada data and facilities, and interact with Statistics Canada staff.

Statistics Canada, and its partners, offer various prizes for research to post-secondary and graduate students in Education, and one prize for research to a graduate student in Geography/Native studies, and one prize for best paper to an undergraduate student in Geography/Environmental studies.

Academics: Spend your sabbatical with us! If academics are interested in spending some or all of their sabbatical with us, Statistics Canada may be able to provide office space and interesting projects for researchers conducting advanced quantitative research in economics, sociology, education, health, and other areas, particularly those who are conducting research in public policy-related topics.