abstract: This paper measures the volatility of manufacturing employment in different Canadian
regions for the period 1976-97. It first examines the structural characteristics of
regional economies and relates them to their levels of employment volatility. The
analysis then focuses on testing whether diversity, growth, plant size and export
intensity are empirically related to volatility levels. The analysis also examines
whether increases in export orientation of a region over the levels. The analysis also
examines whether increases in export orientation of a region over the study period were
associated with changes in industry specialization and employment volatility.
