Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Participation in the labour market

Additional information

The Data visualization tool — Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada: Participation in the labour market is part of a conceptual framework on social inclusion and covers a total of 11 themes. Each theme has a similar interactive visualization tool that is accessible on the page Data visualization tools — Social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada.

These themes are participation in the labour market, representation in decision-making positions, civic engagement and political participation, basic needs and housing, health and well-being, education and skills development, income and wealth, social connections and personal networks, institutions and public services, local community, and discrimination and victimization.

The framework, the indicators and the visualization tools are products released by the Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics that aim to support Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy by providing evidence. Over 120 indicators can be used to examine various socioeconomic facets of visible minorities which are being referred to as "racialized population" in analytical and communication products at Statistics Canada.

Visible minority

In 2021 Census analytical and communications products, the term "visible minority" has been replaced by the terms "racialized population" or "racialized groups," reflecting the increased use of these terms in the public sphere. For technical reasons the term "visible minority" is used in this data visualization tool. The data displayed in this visualization tool are measured from the standard census variable of visible minority.

Visible minority refers to whether a person is a visible minority or not, as defined by the Employment Equity Act. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

Gender and sex

Gender refers to an individual’s personal and social identity as a man, woman or non-binary person (a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman).

Given that the non-binary population is small and to protect the confidentiality of responses provided, individuals in the category "non-binary persons" are distributed into the other two gender categories and are denoted by the "+" symbol.

The sex variable in census years prior to 2021 and the two-category gender variable in the 2021 Census are included together in this data visualization tool. Although sex and gender refer to two different concepts, the introduction of gender is not expected to have a significant impact on data analysis and historical comparability, given the small size of the transgender and non-binary populations. For more information on the "Gender" variable and information on changes of concepts over time, please consult the Age, Sex at Birth and Gender Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Definitions

Participation rate

Proportion of the population aged 15 years and over who were employed or unemployed during the reference week.

Employment rate

Proportion of the population aged 15 years and over who were employed during the reference week.

Unemployment rate

Proportion of the labour force aged 15 years and over who were unemployed during the reference week.

Worked mainly full-time weeks during the reference year

Proportion of the population aged 15 years and over who worked for pay or in self-employment full time (30 hours or more per week) for most of the weeks during the calendar year preceding the census. Excludes the population who did not work during the reference years.

Self-employed (unincorporated)

Proportion of the population aged 15 years and over whose job consisted mainly of operating a business, farm or professional practice, alone or in partnership. The indicator includes self-employed with or without paid help (employees) as well as unpaid family workers. Excludes the population who did not work during the reference period.

Overqualification rate (based on skill level C and D)

Proportion of the population aged 15 years old and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher who, during the current year or the year prior the census, held a position usually requiring a high school diploma or equivalency certificate or less.

This indicator excludes the population whose highest level of education was less than a bachelor’s degree, the population who held a management occupation and the population who did not work during the current year or the calendar year prior the census. The immigrants who first obtained landed immigrant or permanent resident status on or prior to the census year calendar and who reported that their last job, occupied during the reference year was being outside Canada are also excluded. The non-permanent residents who reported that their last job, occupied during the reference period, was located outside Canada are part of the exclusion too.

Youth not in employment, education or training

Proportion of the population aged 15 to 29 who were not in employment during the census reference week (in 2021, the reference week is May 2 to May 8) and who had not attended any accredited educational institution or program in the eight months preceding the census day (for example, in 2021 this period is between September 2020 and 11 May 2021).

The Labor Force Survey (LFS) is the main data source for calculating national estimates of the youth not in employment, education, or training indicator, commonly known as "NEET".  For more information on the measurement differences between the two concepts’ characteristics, please consult theReference guide on the social indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada, 2024.

Related products

Social Inclusion Framework for Ethnocultural Groups in Canada, Infosheet

Reference guide on the social indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada 2024, Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series, March 2024

Perceived health and well-being indicators among racialized groups, 2023, Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series, February 2025

The Daily – Social inclusion for ethnocultural groups in Canada: New tables

The Daily – Statistics on social inclusion for ethnocultural groups in Canada: New products and selected results on the evolution of education among racialized groups, 2006 to 2021

The Daily – Housing conditions among racialized groups: a brief overview

The Daily – Portraits of the social, political and economic participation of racialized groups