Study: Long-term labour market premiums associated with a terminal high school diploma, 1991 to 2010
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
Released: 2014-01-23
A new study that followed a group of men and women for two decades reports that men who had finished high school by 1991 earned $206,000 more over those 20 years than men with no high school diploma. For women, the difference between the two groups was $161,000. The dollar figures are expressed in 2010 constant dollars to account for inflation.
Using longitudinal tax data linked to 1991 Census data, the study tracked the two groups from 1991, when individuals were 26 years old, to 2010, when they were 45. Individuals were grouped according to their highest level of completed education in 1991.
The first group, termed "terminal high school graduates," included those who had completed a high school diploma by 1991, but had not pursued a post secondary education. Men in this group earned $776,000 over the 20-year study period, while women earned $424,000.
The second group, composed of individuals who had not completed high school by 1991, earned considerably less over the 20-year period. Men in this group earned $570,000, while women earned $263,000.
In addition, the study finds that compared with individuals with no high school diploma, terminal high school graduates spent about two additional years in employment, were covered by an employer-sponsored pension plan for two to three more years, and were in unionized positions for about an additional year over the 20-year period. Moreover, men with a terminal high school diploma experienced about one fewer layoff over the period than men with no high school diploma. No difference in the number of layoffs was found for women.
The research paper "The Long-term Labour Market Premiums Associated with a Terminal High School Diploma" (no. 354), part of the Analytical Studies Research Paper Series (Catalogue number11F0019M), is now available from the Browse by key resource module of our website under Publications.
Similar studies are available in the Update on Social Analysis Research module of our website.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Marc Frenette (613-951-3852; marc.frenette@statcan.gc.ca), Social Analysis Division.
- Date modified: