Mothers receiving maternity and parental benefits, 2017
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Release date: February 28, 2019
Description: Mothers receiving maternity and parental benefits, 2017
Mothers receiving maternity and parental benefits, 2017
In 2017, close to 274,000 recent mothers received or had received maternity and/or parental benefits in Canada.
Note: Recent mothers are women with a child of 12 months or less.
72% were between 25 and 34 years old.
| Age group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 15 to 24 years | 6%Footnote 1 |
| 25 to 29 years | 27% |
| 30 to 34 years | 45% |
| 35 years or older | 23% |
1/2 had a university degree.
| Level of education | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51% |
| High school diploma or less | 16% |
| Postsecondary education below bachelor's degree | 33% |
40% were from households earning $60,000 per year or less just before the arrival of the child.
| Annual household income (as of the month before birth or adoption) | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Less than $20,000 | 5%Footnote 1 |
| $20,000 to less than $40,000 | 19% |
| $40,000 to less than $60,000 | 17% |
| $60,000 and over | 59% |
Among mothers who were employees
- Just under 1/3 (32%) received additional payments from their employer.
- 90% of those who planned to return within 18 months intended to return to the same employer.
- Nearly 2/3 (65%) took or planned to take between 9 and 12 months of leave, while…
- 1 in 5 took or planned to take more than one year away from work.
Source: Employment Insurance Coverage Survey, 2017.
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