Aboriginal Employment and Wages in Canada: A Decade of Positives and Negatives

Robert Oppenheimer

doi:10.29173/jaed372

Authors

Robert Oppenheimer

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/jaed372

Keywords:

Academic achievement, Age differences, Age groups, Business And Economics, Economic conditions, Education, Employment, Ethnic Interests, Gender, Gender differences, Indigenous peoples, Native peoples, Native women, Price indexes, Recessions, Secondary schools, Unemployment, Women

Abstract

The employment and participation rates for Aboriginals improved in 2016 over 2015, while the unemployment rate remained the same. However, Aboriginals, as well as non-Aboriginals, have not reached the 2007 levels they were prior to the recession of 2008- 2009. Wages have improved annually and in most years at a rate greater than the consumer price index. This applies for Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals, except in 2016, when wages were basically unchanged for Aboriginals. In general, the rates of employment, unemployment, participation and wages are more favourable for non-Aboriginals than for Aboriginals. However, when examined by the level of education completed, employment rates are similar. Employment and wages are examined for the previous ten years, focusing on changes in 2007, which was prior to the recession, in 2010, immediately after the recession and in 2015 and 2016. Gender, age and educational differences are discussed.