EVALUATION OF THE SOCIAL OPPORTUNITY COST OF LABOUR IN THE AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

In recent years the aircraft industry in Canada has experienced a decline in output. As a consequence there have been major lay-offs of employees who have had to find employment in other activities. All workers have not had the same difficulties in finding alternative employment when released from the aircraft industry. Factors such as age of the worker, his skill, his seniority in the aircraft industry and the general employment conditions in the economy at the time he was laid off will all influence the length of time he requires to find alternative employment. The objective of this paper is to carryout an empirical estimation of the social opportunity cost of labour for this sector that takes into consideration each of these factors.