Earnings and Incomes of Canadians Over the Past Quarter Century, 2006 Census

This article presents findings on the 2005 earnings and incomes of Canadians from the 2006 Census. Data from censuses back to 1981 further illustrate some of the demographic and economic trends that have affected household finances.

The study tracks median income for economic families and persons not in economic families from 1980 to 2005. In addition, it examines their different sources of income and looks at how incomes have changed for families at the low, middle and high, of the income distribution over the past quarter century. For the first time, the census collected information on the after-tax income of Canadians, that is, total income from all sources minus income tax. After-tax income depicts in a better fashion what families have available to spend. Finally, the report examines low-income among recent immigrants, Canada's children and senior population.

Although most data are presented at the national level, some results are examined at the provincial/territorial and census metropolitan area levels. Some further tables for subprovincial regions will accompany this release.