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Seniors are more educated now
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Senior Canadians are much more educated than were previous generations. Their education levels have increased considerably over the past decade—a change that is expected to continue in the coming years.
From 1990 to 2006, the share of men aged 65 and older with less than high school completion dropped from 63% to 46% and the percentage of postsecondary graduates increased. The same trends are evident among women aged 65 and older.
The higher educational attainment is especially striking among Canadians 55 to 64. The share of men in this age group with less than a high school education fell from 53% in 1990 to 24% in 2006, while the share with a university degree jumped from 10% to 22%. Even more striking, the share of women in this age group with a university degree tripled, from 5% to 17%.
These are the first baby boomers to reach their senior years. During the 1960s, they were the first generation to benefit when postsecondary education became accessible to a wider population than in the past. As successive waves of baby boomers enter their sixties, the proportion of seniors with a postsecondary education will continue to grow, and the overall education level of seniors will also continue to rise.
Education level is clearly associated with particular behaviours and socioeconomic conditions, according to a recent study. For example, people—of all ages—with more education tend to have better health, are less likely to have a low income and are less likely to be socially isolated.
