People of Colour in Canada: Quick Take
Note: The term “visible minorities” is widely used in Canada. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as “persons, other than Aboriginal persons, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in color.” This population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean, and Japanese. However, there is a growing sense that the term “visible minority” is outdated due to population shifts and even discriminatory. Instead, we use the term “people of colour” throughout this Quick Take to describe this population group.
POPULATION
More Than One-Fifth of Canadians Are People of Colour
7,674,580 people of colour live in Canada, or 22.3% of the total population in 2016.
Women are slightly over half (51.5%) of all people of colour.
Women of colour are 11.5% of Canada’s total population.
People of Colour Account for an Increasing Share of Canada’s Population
By 2036, people of colour are projected to be about a third (31% to 36%) of the population.
This population growth is driven, in part, by an increase in immigration.
The Proportion of People of Colour Among Canada’s Youth Is Also Rising
More than a quarter (27%) of young Canadians aged 15–34 self-identified as a member of a diverse racial/ethnic group in 2016, slightly more than double the share (13%) in 1996.
The median age of people of colour in 2016 was 33.9, compared to the overall population’s median age of 40.7.
DIVERSITY
Among Canadians of Colour, South Asians, Chinese, and Blacks Are the Largest Groups
The most populous group, South Asians, account for about one-quarter (25.1%) of Canada’s people of colour population and 5.6% of Canada’s total population.
Populations of People of Colour in Canada
EDUCATION
People of Colour Are Highly Educated
As of the 2016 Census, 68.6% of people of colour aged 25–64 have a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree—compared to 64.8% of the general population.
Over two-thirds of women of colour (69.2%) and men of colour (67.8%) have a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.
About two in five (42.0%) Canadians of colour have a university certificate, diploma, or degree at the bachelor level or above—compared to only 28.5% of the general population.
Women of colour are about as likely as men of colour (41.8% and 42.2%, respectively) to have a university certificate, diploma, or degree at the bachelor level or above.
People of Color Represent a Higher Share of University Graduates
Among students completing undergraduate degrees in 2017–2018, 40% self-identified as people of colour, an increase from only 13% in 1999–2000.
In 2018-2019, 44% of first year students identified as people of colour.
LABOUR FORCE
The Share of People of Colour in the Labour Force Is Increasing
People of colour were almost a quarter (22%) of Canada’s labour force in 2016 and are expected to be over a third of the labour force (36%) in 2036.
In 2016, most of the population of people of colour was in the labor force: 66.5%.
Women of colour: 61.9%
Men of colour: 71.5%
Among People of Colour, Women Hold Almost 40% of Management Positions
However women of colour occupy only a small percentage of total management positions (6.5%).
Almost one-third (30.6%) of women of colour in the labour force work in sales and service occupations, while only 0.6% work in natural resources, agriculture, and related production occupations.
People of Colour Experience an Emotional Tax at Work
Black, East Asian, and South Asian professionals report being highly “on guard” at work—anticipating and consciously preparing for potential bias or discrimination.
Women of colour are more likely to cite anticipating racial or ethnic bias (40%) and gender bias (38%) than men of colour (38% and 14% respectively).
Among professional Canadians of colour who are highly on guard:
50% to 69% have a high intent to leave their jobs.
22% to 42% report high rates of sleep problems.
LEADERSHIP
Racial/Ethnic Diversity on Financial Post 500 Boards Is on the Rise
5.9% of board directors in Financial Post 500 organizations in 2018 were people of colour, up from 4.3% in 2017.
Of the 23 companies on the S&P/TSX 60 who submitted Board of Director demographic data as of June 2020, only 5.5% of directors identified as people of colour.
Representation in Government Is Also Increasing
In 2019, 51 people of colour were elected as MPs, up from 47 in 2015.
They now make up 15.1% of Canada’s parliament.
In 2017, the first candidate of colour was elected to lead a major federal party.
PAY GAP
Women of Colour Are Underrepresented Among Canada’s Top Earners
Based on median total income, women of colour earn:
79.7% of what men of colour earn.
56.7% of what all men earn.
Only 13.8% of women among the top 1% of earners in Canada were women of colour in 2015.
by Catalyst