Signal49 Research

What Signal49 Research does

Signal49 Research, headquartered in Ottawa at 1 Rideau Street, is Canada's largest private economic analysis and forecasting organization. Operating continuously since 1954 (rebranded to its current name from the Conference Board of Canada around 2022), the firm employs 160+ researchers, analysts, and staff and produces more than 10,000 historical forecasts and reports, with 300+ new reports, forecasts, and dashboards released each year. Its research is organized across eight knowledge areas: Canadian Economics, Human Resources, Innovation & Technology, Education & Skills, Immigration, Sustainability, Health, and Indigenous & Northern Communities.

The firm's core product is the inFact subscription research series, complemented by custom economic research engagements, executive council memberships (440+ member organizations), and nine member-funded research centres addressing discrete national challenges. Technology inputs include advanced economic and labour market modelling and, as of September 2025, a machine-learning-based Automation Exposure Framework that maps U.S. patent data to job tasks across 900+ Canadian occupations (388 million technology-by-task comparisons). The organization also operates the e-Data self-serve platform for forecast data and release-date access.

Revenue is generated through four streams: inFact subscriptions (recurring), custom economic research (professional services), executive council memberships (recurring), and research centre participation (recurring, member-funded). Distribution is single-country domestic (Canada), with end customers spanning federal, provincial, and municipal governments, private-sector enterprises, and civil society organizations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is privately held with no parent company, no external PE/VC ownership, and no disclosed funding rounds; CEO is Susan Black.

Name

Signal49 Research

Legal name

Signal49 Research

Website

https://signal49.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Signal49 Research is Canada's largest private economic analysis and forecasting organization, delivering subscription research, custom economic studies, and executive councils to 440+ government, business, and civil society members from its Ottawa headquarters since 1954.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Research and Forecasting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB)

Keywords

• Economic research
• Labour market forecasting
• Policy research
• Subscription research services
• Economic impact analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. inFact Subscriptions: Exclusive reports, forecasts, and dashboards delivered through subscription tiers. With more than 300 reports, forecasts, and dashboards released each year, inFact supports confident decision-making in finance, HR, innovation, and more.
2. Custom Economic Research: In-depth analysis of the impacts, risks, and opportunities tied to major investments, policy shifts, and complex business decisions. Organizations leverage economists' expertise and advanced modelling tools for bespoke research engagements.
3. Executive Council Memberships: Exclusive forums where senior leaders come together in person and virtually to tackle challenges, exchange real-world insights, and hear from experts and thought leaders.
4. Research Centre Participation: Member-funded research centres address national challenges with evidence-based insights. Organizations fund shared research agendas that address Canada's most pressing challenges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Signal49 Research is Canada's largest private economic analysis and forecasting organization, delivering evidence-based economic, labour, and policy research to Canadian leaders. It sells subscription-based research through its inFact platform (300+ reports, forecasts, and dashboards annually across eight knowledge areas), bespoke custom economic research engagements, member-funded research centres, and executive council forums for senior leaders.

Product overview

Signal49 Research is Canada's largest private economic analysis and forecasting organization, offering a comprehensive suite of research products and services. The core offering is the inFact Subscriptions platform, which provides over 300 reports, forecasts, and dashboards annually across multiple knowledge areas (Canadian Economics, Human Resources, Innovation & Technology, Education & Skills, Immigration, Health, Sustainability, Indigenous & Northern Communities). This is complemented by Custom Economic Research services for bespoke analysis, Research Centres addressing specific national challenges, and Executive Councils providing peer networking for senior leaders. The organization produces approximately 10,000+ pieces of research outputs annually through its 160+ researchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• inFact: Subscription research series delivering critical research across core organizational areas with more than 300 reports, forecasts, and dashboards released each year.
• Future Skills Centre

Products and services

• inFact Subscriptions

Quantifiable outcome

• 388 million technology-by-task comparisons covering over 900 occupations in automation exposure framework
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future Skills CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Signal49 Research released an automation exposure framework in September 2025 on behalf of the Future Skills Centre. The research was funded by the Government of Canada's Future Skills Program and projects productivity gains over 15 years to help decision-makers guide Canada's workforce through technological change.
• Confederation CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Learning from One Another research initiative focused on labour market needs in Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut.
• Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner supporting research on Northern Ontario economic and labour market conditions.
• Nunavut TunngavikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Indigenous and Northern Communities research initiatives.
• Government of NunavutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in research on labour markets and economic conditions in Nunavut.
• Nunavut Arctic CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in education and skills research for Northern Canada.
• Yukon First Nation Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in research on Indigenous economic development and labour markets in Yukon.
• Yukon UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in education and labour market research for Yukon and Northern regions.
• Oshki-WenjackminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Indigenous education and skills research initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• C.D. Howe Institute: Canadian independent economic and public policy research think tank. Direct competitor in Canada for economic forecasting, policy analysis, and member-funded research engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/S49Research
• Facebookfacebook.com/Signal49Research
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/signal49-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Signal49 Research