Education Indicators in Canada: Handbook for the Report of the Pan-Canadian Education Indicators Program September 2019
Section E: Transitions and outcomes

Skip to text

Text begins

E1 Transitions to postsecondary education

Participation in education

Indicator E1 considers youth transitions from high school to postsecondary education. Participation rates in education, based on data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), are presented for Canada by single age for the population aged 15 to 29 (table 37-10-0101-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0097), and by age group for the populations aged 15 to 29 (table 37-10-0102-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0098) and 18 to 34 (table 37-10-0103-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0099) in Canada, as well as in the provinces and territories.

Concepts and definitions

• The Labour Force Survey (LFS) asks respondents about school attendance at a "school, college or university" in the week before the survey. Respondents are considered to be students if they are:
  • taking a "credit course"; that is, a course or program of instruction that could be counted towards a degree, certificate or diploma;
  • taking classroom instruction or undertaking research towards a degree, certificate or diploma;
  • taking correspondence courses that are affiliated with a school and will be counted as a credit course;
  • attending school as a student nurse (even when engaged in the practical portion of their training in a hospital setting);
  • taking a "credit course" sponsored by their employer, and the instruction is given at a public educational institution, such as a university or community college;
  • a person with a mental or physical disability who is enrolled in a special education program.
• For those who are students, information is collected on the type of school, and whether enrolment is full- or part-time, as designated by the educational establishment.
• The participation rate in education reflects the total enrolment in an elementary/high school, college, or university as a percentage of the total population for each age or in each age group.
• Age is collected for every household member in the Labour Force Survey, and information on labour market activity is collected for all persons aged 15 and over. For this indicator, the participation rate in education is presented by single age from 15 through 29 (table 37-10-0101-01) and for the following age groups: 15 to 19; 20 to 24; and 25 to 29 (table 37-10-0102-01) and 18 to 24, 25 to 29, and 30 to 34 (table 37-10-0103-01).
• The type of institution attended captures the public and private educational establishments categorized as elementary/high school, college or university: elementary, junior high school, high school or equivalent; community college, junior college or CEGEP; university. Information on attendance at other types of schools, such as private institutes or vocational or secretarial schools, is also collected; however, these schools are not reflected in the totals presented in the E1 tables.

Methodology

• The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a monthly household survey of a sample of individuals who are representative of the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age or older. It is conducted nationwide, in both the provinces and the territories. Excluded from the survey's coverage are: persons living on reserves and other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces; full-time members of the Canadian Forces and the institutionalized population. These groups together represent an exclusion of approximately 2% of the population aged 15 and over.
• Canada-level LFS estimates are derived using the results of the LFS in the provinces. LFS results for the territories are not included in the national estimates, but are published separately. Difficulties exist with respect to reaching small communities in the territories, and there are areas that are excluded. As well, since the sample design, rotation pattern and reliability criteria are different from those in the 10 provinces, estimates for the territories are not included with the provincial totals, but are calculated and reported separately.
• The number of students, used to calculate the participation rate, is based on a monthly average from September to April. Full- and part-time students are captured.
• Adjustments are made to LFS data every five years after new population estimates become available following the most recent census. At that time, all LFS data back to the previous census is re-weighted using the new population estimates (since the new population estimates will cover the inter-censal period between the two most recent censuses), and all corresponding historical LFS estimates are revised. Therefore, at the beginning of 2015, all estimates were adjusted to reflect 2011 Census population counts and LFS estimates have been revised back to January 2001.

Limitations

• The "type of institution attended" is based on the "kind of school" variable, where "other - specify" is an option that includes: English as a second language or French language courses that do not qualify as high school, college or university education; police academies; computer and business skills programs other than those offered by colleges or universities; culinary, hairdressing or bartending schools; and special education that focuses on community living and life skills for students with special needs.
• It is unclear where trade certificate programs are placed in the "kind of school" variable. Trade schools could be coded to the "community college, junior college, or "CEGEP" group or to "other – specify", depending on how the respondent answers the question and the interviewer's interpretation of the answer.
• Caution should be exercised in interpreting the ratios for provinces/territories and differences in ratios between provinces/territories and over time, as small estimates may present fairly high sampling variability. Estimates for small geographic areas, for small age-groups or for cross-classified variables will be associated with larger variability.

Data source

• Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada. For more information, consult “Definitions, data sources and methods”, Statistics Canada Web site, survey 3701.

E2 Transitions to the labour market

Students and work

Indicator E2 covers the transition from postsecondary education to the labour market. Labour Force Survey (LFS) data are used to look at the extent to which students aged 15 to 29 combine school and work (table 37-10-0104-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0100 and table 37-10-0106-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0102). The distribution of this population group, both students and non-students, by type of institution attended, age, and labour force status is also presented (table 37-10-0107-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0103).

Concepts and definitions

• The Labour Force Survey (LFS) asks respondents about school attendance at a "school, college or university" in the week before the survey. Respondents are considered to be students if they are:
  • taking a "credit course"; that is, a course or program of instruction that could be counted towards a degree, certificate or diploma;
  • taking classroom instruction or undertaking research towards a degree, certificate or diploma;
  • taking correspondence courses that are affiliated with a school and will be counted as a credit course;
  • attending school as a student nurse (even when engaged in the practical portion of their training in a hospital setting);
  • taking a "credit course" sponsored by their employer, and the instruction is given at a public educational institution, such as a university or community college;
  • a person with a mental or physical disability who is enrolled in a special education program.
• For those who are students, information is collected on the type of school, and whether enrolment is full- or part-time, as designated by the educational establishment.
• The LFS divides the population aged 15 and over into three mutually exclusive groups: employed, unemployed, and not in the labour force.
• Employed persons are those who, during the LFS reference week:
  1. did any work at all at a job or business; that is, paid work in the context of an employer–employee relationship, or self-employment. It also includes unpaid family work, which is defined as unpaid work contributing directly to the operation of a farm, business or professional practice owned and operated by a related member of the same household; or
  2. had a job but were not at work due to factors such as own illness or disability, personal or family responsibilities, vacation, labour dispute or other reasons (excluding persons on layoff, between casual jobs, and those with a job to start at a future date).
• Unemployed persons are those who, during the LFS reference week:
  1. were on temporary layoff during the reference week with an expectation of recall and were available for work, or
  2. were without work, had actively looked for work in the past four weeks, and were available for work, or
  3. had a new job to start within four weeks from the reference week, and were available for work.
• The remainder of the population, those neither currently supplying nor offering their labour services, are referred to as persons not in the labour force.
• Age is collected for every household member in the Labour Force Survey, and information on labour market activity is collected for all persons aged 15 and over. For this indicator, the proportion of students who were also working is presented by single age for 15 through 29 (table 37-10-0104-01) and by three age groups: 15 to 19, 20 to 24 and 25 to 29 (table 37-10-0106-01). The distribution of the 15- to 29-year-old population, both students and non-students, by labour force status, is presented by single age for 15 through 29, and as a total for 15 to 29 (table 37-10-0107-01).
• The type of institution attended captures the public and private educational establishments categorized as elementary/high school, college or university: elementary, junior high school, high school or equivalent; community college, junior college or CEGEP; university; and other types of schools, such as private institutes or vocational or secretarial schools.
• Student and labour force status (table 37-10-0107-01) are presented as:
  • non-students: non-student employed; non-student not in the labour force; non-student unemployed.
  • students: university student employed; university student not in the labour force; college student employed; college student not in the labour force; elementary/high school student employed; elementary/high school student not in the labour force; and student unemployed/other, which includes all unemployed students who attend a school institution, as well as those students for whom the type of institution was not specified, regardless of their labour force status (employed, unemployed, or not in the labour force).

Methodology

• The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a monthly household survey of a sample of individuals who are representative of the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age or older. It is conducted nationwide, in both the provinces and the territories. Excluded from the survey's coverage are: persons living on reserves and other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces; full-time members of the Canadian Forces and the institutionalized population. These groups together represent an exclusion of approximately 2% of the population aged 15 and over.
• Canada-level estimates are derived using the results of the LFS in the provinces. LFS results for the territories are not included in the national estimates, but are published separately. Difficulties exist with respect to reaching small communities in the territories, and there are areas that are excluded. As well, since the sample design, rotation pattern and reliability criteria are different from those in the 10 provinces, estimates for the territories are not included with the provincial totals, but are calculated and reported separately.
• The number of students is based on a monthly average from September to April. Full- and part-time students are captured.
• Adjustments are made to LFS data every five years after new population estimates become available following the most recent census. At that time, all LFS data back to the previous census is re-weighted using the new population estimates (since the new population estimates will cover the inter-censal period between the two most recent censuses), and all corresponding historical LFS estimates are revised. Therefore, at the beginning of 2015, all estimates were adjusted to reflect 2011 Census population counts and LFS estimates have been revised back to January 2001.

Limitations

• Caution should be exercised in interpreting the ratios for provinces/territories and differences in ratios between provinces/territories and over time, as small estimates may present fairly high sampling variability. Estimates for small geographic areas, for small age-groups or for cross-classified variables will be associated with larger variability.

Data source

• Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada. For more information consult “Definitions, data sources and methods”, Statistics Canada Web site, survey 3701.

E3 Labour market outcomes

Unemployment rates

Overall, the E3 indicator outlines labour market outcomes. This sub-indicator presents recent and historical Labour Force Survey (LFS) data on unemployment rates by educational attainment, providing information on trends for the population aged 15 and over at the Canada level (table 14-10-0361-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0104). It also provides a comparison of trends in unemployment rates by educational attainment for 25- to 29-year-olds in Canada and the provinces (table 14-10-0362-01 formerly CANSIM 477-0105). Data on unemployment rates among the off-reserve Aboriginal population aged 15 and over, by educational attainment, are presented for Canada (table 14-10-0361-01).

Concepts and definitions

• According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the unemployment rate refers to the number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the labour force. The unemployment rate for a particular group (educational attainment, for example) is the number unemployed in that group expressed as a percentage of the labour force for that group.
• Unemployed people are those who, during the LFS reference week, were available for work and were either on temporary layoff, had looked for work in the past four weeks, or had a job to start within the next four weeks.
• Unemployment rates are presented for the following categories of educational attainment: all levels of education; less than high school; high school; college or trade; and university.
  • Less than high school: No education or education below high school graduation.
  • High school: High school graduation or some postsecondary education (not completed).
  • College or trade: trade certificate or diploma from a vocational school or apprenticeship training; non-university certificate or diploma from a community college, CEGEP, school of nursing and similar programs at this level; university certificate below bachelor's level.
  • University: bachelor's degree or university degree/certificate above bachelor's level.
• The off-reserve Aboriginal population refers to individuals who reported being an Aboriginal person; that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit). In the LFS, a person may report more than one Aboriginal group; for example, a respondent could report being both First Nations andMétis.^{Footnote 1}

Methodology

• The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a monthly household survey of a sample of individuals who are representative of the civilian, non-institutionalized population 15 years of age or older. It is conducted nationwide, in both the provinces and the territories. Excluded from the survey's coverage are: persons living on reserves and other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces; full-time members of the Canadian Forces and the institutionalized population. These groups together represent an exclusion of approximately 2% of the population aged 15 and over.
• Canada-level estimates are derived using the results of the LFS in the provinces. LFS results for the territories are not included in the national estimates, but are published separately. Difficulties exist with respect to reaching small communities in the territories, and there are areas that are excluded. As well, since the sample design, rotation pattern and reliability criteria are different from those in the 10 provinces, estimates for the territories are not included with the provincial totals, but are calculated and reported separately.
• The LFS unemployment rate is based on a monthly average from January to December.
• Starting in late 2003 in Alberta, and then in April 2004 for the rest of Western Canada, the LFS added questions to identify Aboriginal respondents living off-reserve with the goal of producing provincial labour market statistics on the Aboriginal population. The Aboriginal identity questions were also asked in the territories in 2004. As of January 2007, the question on Aboriginal identity was extended to all provinces. Labour market data for the Aboriginal population have been available for all provinces since the fall of 2008.
• As of January 2015, Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates reflect population counts based on the 2011 Census. LFS data for 2001 through 2014 have been revised based on these modifications. For more information, please see Improvements to the Labour Force Survey (LFS): The 2015 Revisions of the Labour Force Survey (LFS), Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 71F0031X.

Limitations

• Indian reserves have historically been excluded from the LFS due to the serious challenges in contacting and interviewing potential respondents, with many of them living in remote locations not easily accessible to LFS interviewers given the short data collection period each month, and the large effort and cost associated with traveling to these locations.
• Caution should be exercised in interpreting the provincial ratios and differences in ratios between provinces and over time, as small estimates may present fairly high sampling variability. Estimates for small geographic areas, for small age-groups or for cross-classified variables will be associated with larger variability.

Data source

• Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada. For more information consult “Definitions, data sources and methods”, Statistics Canada Web site, survey 3701.

Employment income

This second indicator subset of Indicator E3 explores the impact of the highest certificate, diploma or degree on earnings. For reference year 2016, Census of Population data are used to examine the distribution of earners and average employment income (tables 37-10-0151-01 and 37-10-0152-01).

Concepts and definitions

• Earnings/Employment income refers to total income received by persons aged 15 years and over during calendar year 2015 as wages and salaries, net income from a non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice, and/or net farm self-employment income.
• The distribution of earnings by highest certificate, diploma or degree  is presented for the following levels of earnings: < $5000; $5,000 to < $9,999; $10,000 to < $14,999; $15,000 to < $19,999; $20,000 to < $24,999; $25,000 to < $29,999; $30,000 to < $34,999; $35,000 to < $39,999; $40,000 to < $44,999; $45,000 to < $49,999; $50,000 to < $59,999; $60,000 to < $69,999; $70,000 to < $79,999; $80,000 to < $89,999; $90,000 to < $99,999; $100,000  and more.
• Highest certificate, diploma or degree refers to the highest certificate, diploma or degree completed by an individual, and is sometimes used as a proxy for human capital. For comparisons using Census of Population data, it is classified as:

No certificate, diploma or degree - includes persons who have not obtained any certificates, diplomas or degrees or their equivalents;

Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate - includes persons who have graduated from a secondary school or equivalent. It excludes persons with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree;

Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma - includes Registered Apprenticeship certificates (including Certificate of Qualification, Journeyperson's designation) and other trades certificates or diplomas such as pre-employment or vocational certificates and diplomas from brief trade programs completed at community colleges, institutes of technology, vocational centres, and similar institutions;

College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma – includes persons who obtained a postsecondary certificate or diploma from a community college; a CEGEP (either general/pre-university or technical ); an institute of technology; a school of nursing; a private business school; a private or public trade school; or a vocational school;

University certificate or diploma below bachelor level - includes persons who have obtained a university certificate or diploma below the bachelor level and who have not obtained any higher degrees, certificates or diplomas;

University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above - includes persons who have obtained a university (level) certificate or diploma or a degree from a degree-granting institution. This includes persons who obtained a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, a degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry or an earned doctorate. If a bachelor's degree is normally a prerequisite for a university certificate or diploma course, as may occur with teaching certificates, then persons who obtained that certificate or diploma are included here.

• Average employment income by educational level is presented for the following 10 five-year age groups: 15 to 19; 20 to 24; 25 to 29; 30 to 34; 35 to 39; 40 to 44; 45 to 49; 50 to 54; 55 to 59 and 60 to 64. An overall figure is also presented.

Methodology

• Employment income was derived based on administrative tax and benefit records received from the Canada Revenue Agency for the population aged 15 years and over in private households (excluding institutional residents). Income refers to income received during the calendar year of 2015 from the sources of paid employment (wages and salaries) and self employment (net farm income and net non-farm income from unincorporated business and/or professional practice).
• The 2016 Census of Population definition of average employment income refers to the weighted mean total employment income of individuals 15 years of age and over who reported income for 2015. Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of individuals (e.g., males 45 to 54 years of age) by the number of individuals with income in that group. Note that the words “mean” and “average” were used interchangeably in the text and tables in this indicator.

Limitations

Tables 37-10-0151-01 and 37-10-0152-01 are based on the Census of Population.

The Census of Population covers all persons who usually live in Canada, in the provinces and the territories. It includes persons who live on Indian reserves and in other Indian settlements, permanent residents, non-permanent residents such as refugee claimants, holders of work or study permits, and members of their families living with them. Foreign residents such as representatives of a foreign government assigned to an embassy, high commission or other diplomatic mission in Canada, members of the armed forces of another country stationed in Canada, and residents of another country who are visiting Canada temporarily are not covered by the Census of Population.

The survey also excludes persons living in institutional collective dwellings such as hospitals, nursing homes and penitentiaries; Canadian citizens living in other countries; and full-time members of the Canadian Forces stationed outside Canada. Also excluded are persons living in non-institutional collective dwellings such as work camps, hotels and motels, and student residences.

For comments on data quality for the Highest certificate, diploma or degree variable, refer to the Education Reference Guide, Census of Population, Catalogue no. 98-500-X2016013.

For comments on data quality for the earnings/employment income variable, refer to the Income Reference Guide, Census of Population, Catalogue no. 98-500-X2016004.

Data source

• Census of Population, 2016, Statistics Canada.