Canada's Aboriginal population: An untapped and growing labour force
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Aboriginal population may be a small proportion of the total Canadian labour force, but it’s a large proportion in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
It is also a growing population that is expected to outpace the general Canadian population, which could positively impact the labour force and make a major contribution to the Canadian economy.
In 2001, the Aboriginal population accounted for approximately four per cent of the total Canadian labour force (aged 15-64); by 2026 this figure is anticipated to reach five per cent. By province, the share of the Aboriginal labour force is expected to reach eight per cent in Alberta, 28 per cent in Saskatchewan and 22 per cent in Manitoba by 2026.
The younger Aboriginal population is also a large and growing proportion of the labour force in these provinces. By 2026, it is expected to be nine per cent in Alberta, 36 percent in Saskatchewan and 28 per cent in Manitoba.
Each year in Canada an estimated 25,000 Aboriginal youth turn 15, the legal age to enter the labour market. This figure is expected to steadily increase, totalling more than 600,000 between 2001 and 2026, while British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario will each see approximately 100,000 Aboriginal youth turning 15 within this time frame.
For more information, please read: Horizons, Aboriginal Youth and Canada's Future.
Real Life Stories
Walter Smith, B.Ed.
Walter Smith didn't grow up in British Columbia. And he doesn't work in BC. But we're profiling him because it's safe to say Walter has inspired many Aboriginal people across this province, as well as across Canada, to work in the mineral exploration and mining sector.