Equity groups

According to the federal Employment Equity Act, employers under federal jurisdiction must ensure that women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people and the disabled are included in their recruiting and promotion practices, and that barriers to these groups are removed. Although one study of employed college and university graduates from these groups (except women) found that they earned roughly the same as the general working population, it also showed that they were more likely to be unemployed and less likely to participate in the labour force than the other graduates in their class.

Just under 413,000 people who identified themselves as Aboriginal reported employment income in 2000, accounting for 63% of the total Aboriginal population aged 15 and over. In comparison, 69% of the general population aged 15 and over reported employment income.

In 2001, average income of Aboriginal people at $19,132 was 36% below the national average of $29,769. This was due in large measure to differences between Aboriginal earners and other earners relating to factors that affect the amount of earnings.

There was a predominance of part-year, or part-time, work among Aboriginal people. In 2001, just over one-quarter of Aboriginal people who reported employment income worked for the full year on a full-time basis, compared with 37% of the total population. However, the average employment income of Aboriginal people was significantly lower than the national average regardless of whether they worked full year, full time in 2001. Average earnings of full-year, full-time Aboriginal workers ($33,416) were 23% lower than the national average, while those of Aboriginal earners working part-year or part-time ($13,795) were 28% lower.

The average earnings of Aboriginal people were lower in every age and education category. In addition, they had significantly larger concentrations in the education levels that are associated with lower earnings. About 43% of Aboriginal 15 years and older had not completed high school, compared with only about 31% of those in the general population.

About one of every four Aboriginal earners lived on a reserve. Just over one-third (35%) of these individuals worked full year, full time in 2001. This had a significant impact on the overall employment income of Aboriginal earners on reserves. Aboriginal people who worked full year, full time and lived on a reserve reported average employment income of $28,355, which was 18% below the $34,696 reported by those who lived off reserve.