People of color in Canada generally more educated but paid less

Racialized minorities reported lower earnings and lower rates of unionization and pension plan coverage, the Canadian Press reported. REUTERS PHOTO

People of color in Canada are generally more likely than their white counterparts to earn a university degree but less likely to find a job that pays as well, according to Statistics Canada.

Census data from 2021 and 2016 show that two years after finishing college, racialized minorities reported lower earnings and lower rates of unionization and pension plan coverage, the Canadian Press reported on the federal agency’s findings.

Statistic Canada says that generally, many racialized populations, including Koreans, Chinese, South Asians, West Asians, Japanese, Arabs and Filipinos, had levels of education well above the national average.

However, employment income averaged $45,700 annually among racialized women with university degrees compared with $47,800 for non-racialized and non-Indigenous women.

Non-racialized men earned $51,600 compared with $54,100 for non-racialized and non-Indigenous men.

Considerable variations were also observed in education levels within the Latino and Black communities. Immigrants who arrived in the country before 2001 were less likely to possess university diplomas.

Immigrants who came in 2001 or later were more likely than Canadians in general to have a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate diploma.