A Canada-U.S. Comparison of Employment and Wages

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Workers aged 25 to 54 without a bachelor's degree

Release date: June 4, 2018
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Infographic: A Canada-U.S. Comparison of Employment and Wages
Description: A Canada-U.S. Comparison of Employment and Wages

Employment rates evolved more favourably in Canada than in the United States from 2000 to 2017, largely because of differing trends among workers without a bachelor's degree. The majority of Canadians (66%) and Americans (63%) aged 25 to 54 did not hold at least a bachelor's degree in 2017.Footnote 1

Employment rates

Employment rate in 2017, persons aged 25 to 54 without a bachelor's degree
  Men Women
Canada 83.8% 75.2%
U.S. 81.8% 66.0%

Employment by industry

Men without a bachelor's degree in Canada working in...

  • 15% were employed in construction
  • 12% were employed in wholesale trade and retail trade
  • 13% were employed in manufacturing

Women without a bachelor's degree in Canada working in...

  • 23% were employed in educational, health care and social assistance services
  • 6% were employed in accommodation and food services
  • 12% were employed in wholesale trade and retail trade

Wages

Between 2000 and 2017, real wages increased in Canada but decreased in the United States.Footnote 2

Median hourly wage change
  Men Women
Canada 4.2% 9.3%
U.S. -5.5% 1.1%

In Canada, between 2000 and 2017, real wages for men and women without a bachelor's degree increased, led by growth in the Prairies.

In the United States, real wages of men and women without a bachelor's degree declined across most regions.

Real median hourly wage change between 2000 and 2017, workers aged 25 to 54 without a bachelor's degree
  Women Men
Canada
Atlantic Canada 21.2% 10.0%
Quebec 14.3% 7.9%
Ontario 1.9% 1.7%
Prairies 26.1% 22.6%
British Columbia 2.5% -1.2%
TOTAL 9.3% 4.2%
United States
New England -4.3% -4.7%
Middle Atlantic -3.6% -8.2%
East North Central -3.1% -9.7%
West North Central 1.5% -7.2%
South Atlantic -1.7% -5.1%
South Central 3.6% -1.7%
Mountain 3.4% -4.8%
Pacific -3.8% -6.4%
TOTAL 1.1% -5.5%

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey. More information can be found in the following article: Bernard A. and R. Morissette. Employment Rates and Wages of Core-Aged Workers in Canada and the United States, 2000 to 2017. Economic Insights, Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 11-626-X. Ottawa, Statistics Canada.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2018

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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