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

Released: 2024-03-26

Today, Statistics Canada's Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics is releasing a series of 10 updated data tables that measure social inclusion among racialized groups in Canada and aim to support Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy by providing evidence. The indicators in the tables are part of the Social Inclusion Framework for Ethnocultural Groups in Canada, which is described in a new Infosheet. The complete list of indicators and a short description of each are also available in the new edition of the Reference guide on social inclusion indicators for ethnocultural groups in Canada, 2024.

This release presents selected results on education and skill development, particularly the indicator "highest certificate, diploma or degree completed." Using data from the 2006 to 2021 censuses, we examine the evolution of the education of individuals aged 25 to 64 by racialized group, gender and immigrant status.

The 2021 Census of Population results showed that most racialized groups generally have higher levels of education than the total population in Canada. This gap in educational attainment between the racialized population and the total population widened from 2006 to 2021. In 2021, racialized women and recent racialized immigrants—who landed in Canada in the 10 years leading up to the 2021 Census—were among the most educated in Canada.

The proportion of individuals in racialized groups who have no certificate, diploma or degree is declining

The proportion of racialized individuals aged 25 to 64 with no certificate, diploma or degree dropped from 13.0% in 2006 to 9.0% in 2021 (-4.0 percentage points). This downward trend was also observed among the total population of the same age group, whose proportion fell from 15.4% to 9.9% over the same period (-5.5 percentage points).

These results vary by racialized group and gender. From 2006 to 2021, of the different racialized groups, the Southeast Asian population—and especially women—had the largest percentage-point decrease. In 2021, 22.0% of Southeast Asian women did not have a certificate, diploma or degree, down from 31.2% (-9.2 percentage points) in 2006. In comparison, the proportion of Southeast Asian men with no certificate, diploma or degree fell 4.2 percentage points, from 25.4% in 2006 to 21.2% in 2021. As highlighted in the analyses published for the 2021 Census of Population, many Southeast Asian individuals immigrated to Canada as refugees in the 1970s and 1980s and generally had lower levels of education, while their children are more likely to have a higher level of education.

The proportion of individuals in racialized groups with a bachelor's degree or higher reached an all-time high in 2021

The proportion of racialized people aged 25 to 64 with a bachelor's degree or higher rose from 34.9% in 2006 to 47.5% in 2021, reaching a new high. This proportion is higher than the proportion for the total population in the same age group, which rose from 23.0% in 2006 to 32.9% in 2021.

Among racialized groups, South Asian, Chinese and West Asian populations had the largest percentage-point increases from 2006 to 2021. The proportion of the South Asian population with a bachelor's degree or higher increased from 36.5% in 2006 to 55.2% in 2021 (+18.7 percentage points). This was the largest increase in percentage points since 2006. Overall, the Korean population (60.5%) had the highest proportion with a bachelor's degree or higher and the largest gap with the total population (32.9%) in 2021 (gap of 27.6 percentage points). However, this gap has narrowed since 2006, when 54.2% of the Korean population and 23.0% of the total population had at least a bachelor's degree (gap of 31.2 percentage points).

In 2021, the Southeast Asian (30.5%) and Black (32.4%) populations were the only racialized groups that had slightly lower proportions with a bachelor's degree or higher compared with the total population (32.9%). Nonetheless, in 2021 the proportions for these racialized groups were closer to the national average compared with 2006. In 2006 the proportions of the Black and the Southeast Asian populations having a bachelor's degree or higher were each 19.9% compared with 23.0% for the total population.

Chart 1 
Population aged 25 to 64 years old with a bachelor's degree or higher, by racialized group, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021

For the first time, in 2021, the proportion of racialized women with a bachelor's degree or higher outpaced the proportion of their male counterparts

The upward trend in the proportion of racialized individuals (aged 25 to 64) with a bachelor's degree or higher was more pronounced among women, regardless of racialized group, than among their male counterparts. In 2021, for the first time, the proportion of women in most racialized groups with a bachelor's degree or higher (48.4%) rose slightly above that of racialized men (46.5%). In 2006 these proportions were 32.6% for racialized women and 37.4% for racialized men.

Furthermore, the increase in the education level of racialized immigrant women was larger than the increases observed among racialized non-immigrant women. For example, the proportion of racialized immigrant women with a bachelor's degree or higher rose from 31.0% in 2006 to 46.3% in 2021 (+15.3 percentage points), compared with an increase from 42.1% to 52.0% (+9.9 percentage points) for racialized non-immigrant women over that same period.

These results reflect the level of education at the time of the census. An analysis of location of study could provide further insights into the educational attainment trends of immigrant women and men.

Racialized immigrants who landed in Canada in the period from 2011 to 2021 had higher levels of education than their counterparts who immigrated in earlier years

The prevalence of higher education among the racialized population, compared with the total population, is partly due to the increase in the number of highly educated immigrant women and men who settled in Canada during the period from 2011 to 2021. In 2021, the majority (53.2%) of immigrants aged 15 and older living in Canada were admitted under the economic category. This proportion was 58.0% among those who arrived during the period from 2011 to 2021, compared with 50.8% of their counterparts who immigrated before 2011. In most immigration programs in Canada, higher educational attainment is part of the admission criteria under the economic category. In addition, some immigrants might pursue further education in Canada after their arrival.

In 2021, more than half (55.8%) of racialized individuals aged 25 to 64 who recently immigrated to Canada (during the period from 2011 to 2021) had a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 41.5% of racialized immigrants in the same age group who arrived in Canada before 2011.

In 2021, among South Asians who immigrated during the period from 2011 to 2021, 68.6% reported having a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 44.8% of their counterparts who immigrated more than 10 years prior to the 2021 Census. Recent Latin American and Southeast Asian immigrants are also among the groups more likely to have a bachelor's degree or higher than their counterparts who landed before 2011.

These results highlight the evolution of the different education profiles that exist within diverse racialized groups and is intended to inform social inclusion and anti-racism policies and programs.

Looking ahead

Statistics Canada will continue to update the social inclusion indicators. The data currently available in the tables released are based on the 2006, 2016 and 2021 censuses, the 2011 National Household Survey, the 2022 Canadian Community Health Survey ― Annual Component, the 2022 Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, the 2021 Canadian Housing Survey, the 2020 General Social Survey – Social Identity and the 2019 General Social Survey – Victimization.

Other products related to the data tables such as the Data Visualization tools ― Social inclusion indicators for Canada's ethnocultural groups in Canada will subsequently be updated using the most recent data released today.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).