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Canada's Changing Labour Force, 2006 Census: The provinces and territories
Aboriginal peoples in the workforce
Defining the Aboriginal population
There are various ways to define the Aboriginal population based on the four related questions asked in the census (Aboriginal identity; member of an Indian Band/First Nation; Registered or Treaty Indian; and ethnic origin, including Aboriginal ancestries) depending on the focus and the requirements of the data user.
For the purposes of this report, two concepts are used: Aboriginal identity and Registered or Treaty Indian (See Definitions section of this report).
The labour market characteristics of the overall Aboriginal population are described using the Aboriginal identity concept. Separate data are presented for each of the three Aboriginal identity groups: Inuit, Métis and First Nations people. Data are also presented for the First Nations identity population living on and off reserve.
This report also presents labour market data for the Registered Indian population living on and off reserve (regardless of their Aboriginal identity).
For more information, see How Statistics Canada Identifies Aboriginal Peoples.
Despite labour market improvement, Aboriginal peoples still less likely to be employed
While unemployment rates dropped and employment rates rose for people who identified as an Aboriginal person between 2001 and 20061, substantial gaps remained between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.
In 2006, the employment rate for Aboriginal people of core working age (aged 25 to 54 years) was 65.8%, up from 61.2% in 2001. This compared to 81.6% for non-Aboriginal people in 2006, up from 80.3% five years earlier.
Employment rates rose for all three Aboriginal groups2. In 2006, the employment rate of people aged 25 to 54 who identified as Inuit3 was 61.1%, up slightly from 60.3% in 2001. An estimated 74.6% of people who identified as Metis4 were employed in 2006, up from 70.4% in 2001, while the employment rate was 60.5% for people who identified as North American Indians or First Nations people5, up from 56.4% five years earlier.
There was a greater increase in employment rates off reserve than on reserve for both the First Nations identity population and people who reported that they were Registered Indians6 (See Definitions for the geographic areas included as 'on reserve'). Consequently, the gap between employment rates on and off reserve has grown.
In 2006, 51.9% of the First Nations identity population living on reserve were employed, compared with 49.9% in 2001. In contrast, employment rates rose considerably for First Nations people living off reserve. In 2006, 66.3% of the off-reserve First Nations population was employed, up from 60.8% five years earlier.
Similar trends were observed for the Registered Indian population. In 2006, 51.9% of Registered Indians living on reserve were employed, up from 50.1% in 2001. Employment was higher among Registered Indians living off reserve; 64.8% were employed in 2006, up from 59.1% five years earlier.
Although Aboriginal people are still less likely than non-Aboriginal people to be employed, the employment rate gap decreased from 19.1 percentage points in 2001 to 15.8 percentage points in 2006. The gap decreased between the non-Aboriginal and the Métis and First Nations populations. However, the gap between Inuit and non-Aboriginal people was unchanged.
Notes:
- Only the Indian reserves and settlements that participated in both censuses are included when comparing data between 2001 and 2006.
- The Aboriginal population grew faster than the non-Aboriginal population between 2001 and 2006 and the fastest gain occurred among people who identified as Métis. Several factors may account for this growth, including high birth rates and more individuals identifying as an Aboriginal person. Population growth factors, as well as changes in reporting patterns, should be taken into consideration when analyzing changes in labour market outcomes over time.
- Although single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity question are possible, only the population reporting a single response of 'Inuit' is included. Less than 1% of the Aboriginal identity population reported more than one Aboriginal identity in 2006.
- Although single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity question are possible, only the population reporting a single response of 'Métis' is included. Less than 1% of the Aboriginal identity population reported more than one Aboriginal identity in 2006.
- Although single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity question are possible, only the population reporting a single response of 'North American Indian' is included. Less than 1% of the Aboriginal identity population reported more than one Aboriginal identity in 2006. Respondents identified as 'North American Indians'; however the term 'First Nations people' is used throughout this report.
- The Registered Indian population includes people who reported they were Registered or Treaty Indians as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, regardless of their Aboriginal identity.
