Future of work

Although racialized people are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to their non-racialized, non-Indigenous counterparts, they are less likely to find jobs that offer the same pay and benefits following graduation – opportunities this Statistics Canada briefing defines as “good jobs” by comparison.  

Many racialized populations — including Korean, Chinese, South Asian, Japanese, Arab and Filipino — have education levels well above the national average. Southeast Asian populations, however, have statistically lower levels of education, which can be attributed to many arriving as refugees to Canada.  

Furthermore, there are variations in educational outcomes among Latin American and Black populations. The report notes that Latin American immigrants who arrived in Canada in 2001 or later are more likely to have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Similarly, first- and second-generation Black Canadians who were born in Africa or had at least one parent born in Africa are more likely to have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher.  

Among women, West Asian and Arab graduates experience the largest income gaps, earning 15–16% less than their non-racialized, non-Indigenous counterparts. Among men, Black, Southeast Asian, Filipino, Chinese and Korean graduates have the lowest employment incomes, earning between 11–13% less than their non-racialized, non-Indigenous counterparts.