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Human Resources

Statistics Canada has released a preliminary figure of 147,599 as number of business R&D personnel during 2007. Professionals account for 86,368 (58.5%). In 2006, a total of 226,250 full-time personnel were engaged in research and development (R&D) activities in Canada, up 4.2% over the previous year. Between 1997 and 2006, this number increased by 55.3%. Researchers accounted for 62% of total R&D personnel, while technicians comprised one-quarter and support staff 13%. In 2006, 66% of R&D personnel were employed by business enterprises, followed by 25% in the higher education sector and 8% in government (combined federal and provincial). The vast majority (90%) of the increase in R&D personnel from 2005 to 2006 occurred in the business enterprise sector. The majority of Canadian R&D personnel work in the field of natural sciences and engineering, reaching nearly 90% in 2006. This is primarily due to the business enterprise sector which is restricted to natural sciences and engineering. R&D manpower data from Statistics Canada and OECD, is presented below:

Table: Human Resources in R&D
SourceNational R&D SurveyOECD
YearYear 2006Year 2005
UnitsFTEFTE
R&D Personnel226,250213,930
R&D Personnel per thousand employed 13.0
Business R&D Personnel148,810137,690
Higher education R&D Personnel57,27056,950
Government R&D Personnel17,96017,870
Private non-profit R&D Personnel2,210 
Researchers140,010134,300
Researchers per thousand employed 8.2
Business Researchers87,58081,960
Higher education Researchers43,53043,420
Government Researchers8,1808,420
Private non-profit Researchers  
Source: (1) Statistics Canada, Innovation Analysis Bulletin, July 2009 (2) OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators database, May 2009.