Employment Profile of English Speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Authors

Report Overview

Sta Kuzviwanza, Director of Policy & Research, Provincial Employment Roundtable

Ye Zin, Economic Policy Analyst, Provincial Employment Roundtable

This report aims to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the employment situation of Abitibi-Témiscamingue’s English-speaking communities, who are linguistic minorities in the region. It surveys the most current and comprehensive information on their demographic and labour force conditions. Topics covered include work activity, unemployment rate, income, and educational attainment of workers to provide a more holistic picture of English speakers’ employment and employability.

In addition to examining the demographics and labour force of the region’s English-speaking population, this profile also examines the key characteristics of the labour market and industries in which English speakers work. The profile concludes with identifying some of the employment challenges and issues for English-speaking workers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, as well as preliminary recommendations to help improve their labour market outcomes.

 


Key Findings

  • English speakers constitute 3.6% of Abitibi-Témiscamingue’s labour force, and they have a labour force participation rate of 56.5% compared to 63.4% among the French-speaking majority.
  • English speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue have an unemployment rate of 8%. This is higher than the unemployment rate of French speakers in the region (5.5%).
  • English speakers earn a median after-tax income of $34,000 and a median employment income of $34,800. Compared to French speakers, they earn $3,600 less in after-tax income and $5,200 less in median employment income.
  • More than half of English speakers are engaged in full-time employment (55.2%), compared to 52.8% among French speakers.
  • Retail trade is the industry with the highest vacancies in the region. The top 4 leading industries for English speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue are ‘Health care and social assistance’, ‘Manufacturing’, followed by ‘Public administration’, and ‘Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction’. The top 4 leading industries for French speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue are ‘Health care and social assistance’, followed by ‘Mining, oil and gas extraction’, ‘Retail trade’, and ‘Manufacturing’.
  • There are vulnerable groups within the English-speaking labour force – English-speaking youth, women, First Nations and Inuit individuals tend to face greater labour market obstacles as demonstrated by higher unemployment rates or lower employment incomes.