1 in 13 says using more than one language at work in BC

StatCan release – New data from the 2006 Census reveal that British Columbia and Alberta led the way in employment growth between 2001 and 2006. Over the five-year period, the 1.7% annual average national employment growth rate was surpassed only in Alberta (2.9%), BC (2.1%) and the three territories.

BC added 208,800 workers between 2001 and 2006, while Alberta added 251,100. Together they accounted for a third of Canada’s employment growth over this period. In BC, the gain of 51,800 construction jobs accounted for one-quarter of the province’s total employment growth during the five-year period, an average annual rate of 8.3%. Growth also came from non-residential construction projects, such as initial building for the 2010 Winter Olympics. This may partly explain the big boost of 27,200 more workers in professional, scientific and technical services, including architects and engineers. In addition, employment for retail trade workers grew by 17,800 over the five-year period.

On the downside, the pulp, paper and paperboard mills industries shed 14,400 jobs over the five-year period. These losses were concentrated in Ontario (4,600), Quebec (4,000) and BC (2,200). Employment in the sawmills and wood preservation industry fell by 14,200, with roughly half of the decline occurring in BC.

Unemployment fell across much of BC, where the provincial rate dropped from 8.5% in 2001 to 6.0% in 2006. In Kamloops, the decline was even more dramatic, as the rate tumbled from 10.5% to 6.2%; in Kelowna, it dropped from 8.8% to 5.1%. Vancouver also saw a large drop in its unemployment rate from 7.2% to 5.6%. The unemployment rate in Victoria was particularly low at 4.3% in 2006.

While some cities in the province were still lagging behind the national unemployment rate of 6.6%, there was also notable improvement. In Prince George, the unemployment rate fell from 11.4% to 7.6%, and in Nanaimo, from 11.6% to 7.0% over the five-year period.

Census data show that the aging of BC’s labour force continued between 2001 and 2006. In 2006, workers aged 55 and older accounted for 16.7% of the total labour force in the province, up from 12.7% five years earlier. This was the result of the baby boom generation approaching retirement age, and the increased tendency for older workers to continue to participate in the labour force.

In terms of education, Census data reveal that BC had the lowest proportion of adults who had not completed high school in the country in 2006. Only 12% of the adult population aged between 25 and 64 of the province had not completed high school. Conversely, 62% of adults in BC were postsecondary graduates, second to the Yukon Territory.

About 24% of BC’s adult population had a university degree, an increase of 26% between 2001 and 2006; 20% had a college diploma; and 12% had a trades certificate. These proportions were virtually on par with the national averages. An additional 26% of the adult population had a high school diploma.

Of all the provinces, BC had the highest proportion of its adult population that had studied outside Canada. Just over one-fifth (22%) of adults aged between 25 and 64 who had a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree obtained it in another country. BC also had a substantial net inflow of university graduates from other provinces or territories, about 9,900 between 2001 and 2006.

The Canadian economy still places a premium on workers with higher levels of education. Among Canadian workers in the core working-age group (ages 25 to 54), those who had not completed high school had an unemployment rate of 9.4% in 2006. This was more than twice the rate of 4.2% among those who had completed a university degree.

Furthermore, the type of program that Canadians have completed can also impact their chances of landing a job. For example, among British Columbians with postsecondary education in the core working-age group, those majoring in biblical studies, education, engineering technology, parks, recreation and leisure, mechanics, health services, biology, and construction trades all had an unemployment rate lower than 4% in 2006.

According to data on the use of language at work, over 180,000 British Columbians reported using more than one language at work in 2006. They represented 7.6% of the province’s population aged 15 and over who were employed between January 1, 2005 and May 16, 2006. This was slightly up from 7.0% in 2001.

Among the provinces that received the majority of immigrants, BC remained the one with the highest use of languages other than English or French. In 2006, the proportion of allophones (those whose mother tongue was neither English nor French) in BC who reported using non-official languages at work was the same as in 2001, that is, 30%. In fact, BC was the only exception in the country – the use of non-official languages at work among allophones was down slightly in all other provinces and territories.

Using Languages at Work in Canada, 2006 Census: Summary

* More than one language of work in Canada
In 2006, close to 2.8 million Canadians reported using more than one language at work. They represented 15.0% of the population aged 15 and over who were employed between January 1, 2005 and May 16, 2006. This was a slight increase over 2001 (14.6% or 2.5 million individuals), the first census that collected statistics on language of work.

* Francophone workers outside Quebec
Outside Quebec, 69% of the 577,000 Francophone workers reported using French at work. French was the language that 40% of them used most often in both 2006 and 2001, whereas 29% of them used it regularly, an increase over 2001 (27%). This indicates a slight overall increase compared to 2001 (67%).

* Immigrant workers in Quebec
In 2006, the use of French was on the rise among immigrant workers in Quebec. Of the 507,000 workers born outside the country, 65% used French most often (alone or with another language) at work. This represented an increase compared to the percentage observed in 2001 (63%).

* Allophone immigrant workers
The use of French was also on the rise among allophone immigrant workers in Quebec compared to 2001 figures. Among allophones, who represented approximately 70% of all immigrant workers in Quebec, 63% reported using French alone or with another language most often at work in 2006. In 2001, this proportion was closer to 60%.

* Anglophone workers
In 2006, Anglophones in Quebec used French at work more than in 2001. Whereas 68% of them reported using French at work in 2006 (32% most often alone or with another language, and 36% regularly), 65% had done so five years before.

* Workers on the Island of Montréal
In the census division of Montréal (or Island of Montréal), the use of French at work by Anglophones reached 65% in 2006 (24% most often and 41% regularly), compared to 64% in 2001.

While the use of French most often at home throughout the Island of Montréal had decreased since 2001, its use at work remained virtually unchanged. In 2006, 58% of workers living on the Island of Montréal used French most often at home, compared to 60% five years earlier. The proportion of those using French most often at work remained the same at 69% for both census years.

* Allophone workers in Canada as a whole
The use of non-official languages at work fell slightly among Canadians whose mother tongue was neither English nor French in all provinces and territories, with the exception of British Columbia. Whereas in 2001, 23% of allophones used a language other than English or French at work (11% most often, 12% regularly), this proportion was 22% in 2006.

The rising numbers of allophone immigrants over the past five years did not lead to an increase in the use of non-official languages at work by allophone immigrants as a whole.

Comprehensive data, thematic maps as well as three analytical articles titled “Canada’s Changing Labour Force, 2006 Census”, “Educational Portrait of Canada, 2006 Census”, and “Using Languages at Work in Canada, 2006 Census” respectively are now available at Statistics Canada’s website. Additional data tables on place of work and mode of transportation (without detailed analysis) are also available.