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2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations

Labour Force Activity (8), Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree (13), Attendance at School (3), Aboriginal Identity (8), Age Groups (12A) and Sex (3) for the Population 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

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Canada Warning
Highest certificate, diploma or degree (13) Labour force activity (8)
Total - Labour force activity In the labour force Employed Unemployed Not in the labour force Participation rate Employment rate Unemployment rate
Note(s) :
  1. Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations crossing provincial boundaries
    There is one census metropolitan area (Ottawa - Gatineau) and three census agglomerations (Campbellton, Hawkesbury and Lloydminster) that cross provincial boundaries. The data for their respective provincial parts are included with the appropriate census metropolitan area or census agglomeration, with data for the census metropolitan area or census agglomeration within the province of the provincial part that contributes the majority of the population to the area. For example, Ottawa - Gatineau can be found in Ontario, Campbellton in New Brunswick, Hawkesbury in Ontario and Lloydminster in Alberta.
  1. TOTAL - ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL
    Attendance at school could have been either full time or part time.
    Note: Data quality - Attendance at school

    A new version of the school attendance question was used in the 2006 Census. Studies on data certification showed important variations with previous censuses and with the Labour Force Survey. It appears that the 2006 Census could have overestimated the school attendance for the population aged 45 years or over.

    We recommend users of the attendance at school variable interpret the 2006 Census results with caution.

    For more information on factors that may explain such variances in census data, such as response errors and processing errors, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, Appendix B: Data quality, sampling and weighting, confidentiality and random rounding.

    More information is available in the Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census, catalogue number 97-560-GWE2006003.
  2. TOTAL - ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL IDENTITY POPULATION
    This is a grouping of the total population into non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal population, with Aboriginal persons further divided into Aboriginal groups, based on their responses to three questions on the 2006 Census form.
  3. TOTAL - HIGHEST CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA OR DEGREE
    'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' refers to the highest certificate, diploma or degree completed based on a hierarchy which is generally related to the amount of time spent 'in-class'. For postsecondary completers, a university education is considered to be a higher level of schooling than a college education, while a college education is considered to be a higher level of education than in the trades. Although some trades requirements may take as long or longer to complete than a given college or university program, the majority of time is spent in on-the-job paid training and less time is spent in the classroom.

    Census questions relating to education changed substantially between 2001 and 2006, principally to reflect developments in Canada's education system. These changes improved the quality of data and provided more precise information on the level of educational attainment as well as fields of study.

    However, users should be aware that changes to the education portion of the 2006 Census questionnaire have affected the comparability of some 2006 Census data with data from previous censuses. More information on the historical comparability of specific categories of 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' is available in the Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census, catalogue number 97-560-GWE2006003.
  4. HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OR EQUIVALENT
    'High school certificate or equivalent' includes persons who have graduated from a secondary school or equivalent. Excludes persons with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. Examples of postsecondary institutions include community colleges, institutes of technology, CEGEPs, private trade schools, private business colleges, schools of nursing and universities.
  5. COLLEGE, CEGEP OR OTHER NON-UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA
    'College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma' replaces the category 'Other non university certificate or diploma' in previous censuses. This category includes accreditation by non degree-granting institutions such as community colleges, CEGEPs, private business colleges and technical institutes.
  6. UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA BELOW BACHELOR LEVEL
    The overall quality of the 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' variable from the 2006 Census is acceptable. However, users of the 'University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level' category should know that an unexpected growth in this category was noted compared to the 2001 Census.

    In fact, in the 2001 Census, 2.5% of respondents aged 15 years or over declared such a diploma, compared to 4.4% in 2006, representing 89% growth. This phenomenon was not found in other sources like the Labour Force Survey.

    We recommend users interpret the 2006 Census results for this category with caution.

    For more information on factors that may explain such variances in census data, such as response errors and processing errors, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, Appendix B: Data quality, sampling and weighting, confidentiality and random rounding.

    More information is available in the Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census, catalogue number 97-560-GWE2006003.
  7. UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA OR DEGREE AT BACHELOR'S LEVEL OR ABOVE
    Questions pertaining to university degrees attained in 2006 (for example bachelor's degrees or master's degrees) were similar to those asked in 2001. Data for the university categories (bachelor's degree through to earned doctorate) are comparable over time.
Warning Data quality note(s)
  • Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.
Total - Highest certificate, diploma or degree 3 25,664,220 17,146,135 16,021,180 1,124,955 8,518,085 66.8 62.4 6.6
No certificate, diploma or degree 6,098,325 2,613,385 2,323,155 290,230 3,484,940 42.9 38.1 11.1
Certificate, diploma or degree 19,565,895 14,532,750 13,698,025 834,725 5,033,150 74.3 70.0 5.7
High school certificate or equivalent 4 6,553,420 4,507,305 4,180,300 327,005 2,046,120 68.8 63.8 7.3
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 2,785,420 2,022,795 1,897,680 125,115 762,625 72.6 68.1 6.2
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma 5 4,435,135 3,462,330 3,290,735 171,600 972,805 78.1 74.2 5.0
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level 6 1,136,145 804,025 761,880 42,145 332,125 70.8 67.1 5.2
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor's level or above 7 4,655,770 3,736,290 3,567,430 168,860 919,480 80.3 76.6 4.5
Bachelor's degree 2,981,465 2,415,815 2,301,995 113,825 565,645 81.0 77.2 4.7
University certificate or diploma above bachelor level 493,540 379,260 363,415 15,845 114,275 76.8 73.6 4.2
Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry 136,845 110,890 107,955 2,935 25,955 81.0 78.9 2.6
Master's degree 866,975 692,135 660,860 31,270 174,845 79.8 76.2 4.5
Earned doctorate 176,940 138,190 133,205 4,980 38,755 78.1 75.3 3.6
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006027 (Canada, Code01)