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Study: Persistence of low income among working-aged unattached individuals

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The Daily


Friday, June 15, 2007
1993 to 2004

Although unattached individuals under 65 accounted for just 11% of the Canadian population in 2005, they represented over a third of people who lived in low income that year. As well, they comprised 47% of people who remained in low income for six consecutive years, according to a new study.

The study was based on data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, which collected information on the income level and earnings of individuals who responded the survey each year over three overlapping six-year periods: 1993 to 1999, 1996 to 2002 and 1998 to 2004.

The study found that people who lived alone were more likely than people in "economic families" to be in low income persistently, even when age group, visible minority status, educational attainment, work status, and work limitation status were taken into account.

The incidence of persistent low income rose with age. Older unattached individuals were especially vulnerable to the most persistent type of low income. One-quarter of unattached individuals aged 45 to 54, who remained unattached for all six years covered by the study, lived in low income for six consecutive years. In contrast, only 1% of similar-aged major income earners, those with the highest earnings within an economic family, experienced such persistent low income.

The study also showed that although unattached individuals could climb out of low income, they were more likely to do so if they did not remain unattached.

Statistical analyses showed that among working-aged unattached individuals, those who faced the greatest risks of the most persistent low income included the unemployed and those who had reported limitations to work. Individuals also at great risk were those who had not completed high school, those who were aged 45 to 64, or those whose unattached status remained unchanged over the six-year study period.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3889.

The study "Persistence of Low Income Among Non-elderly Unattached Individuals", as part of the publication Income Research Paper Series (75F0002MIE2007005, free), is now available from the Publications module of our website.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-888-297-7355; 613-951-7355; fax: 613-951-3012; income@statcan.gc.ca), Income Statistics Division.