Labour output grew 22.1 per cent between 2002 and 2019 in economic areas that deployed robots, had larger digital workforces and adopted information and communications technology, compared to 6.3 per cent in industries that didn’t, according to a new Statistics Canada study. Digitally intensive sectors also proved “more resilient” during the pandemic. (The Logic)

Talking point: Almost every major industry was using more technology between 2013 and 2015 compared with 2000 to2002, StatCan found. However, already digitally intensive sectors accelerated digitization at a quicker pace, while traditional sectors like agriculture, mining and construction “started out low” and increased digitization relatively slowly. Policymakers and stakeholders have previously expressed concern about the rate of Canadian businesses’ technology adoption. Ottawa’s Economic Strategy Tables advisory group recommended creating new centres across the country to encourage it.