Authors

Report Overview

Ye Zin, Economic Policy Analyst, Provincial Employment Roundtable

This report aims to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the employment situation of Bas-Saint-Laurent’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 Bas-Saint-Laurent, as well as preliminary recommendations to help improve their labour market outcomes.

Key Findings

• English speakers constitute 0.8% of Bas-Saint-Laurent’s labour force, and they have a labour force participation rate of 60.2% compared to 57.1% among the French-speaking majority. 
• English speakers in Bas-Saint-Laurent have an unemployment rate of 7.7%. This is higher than the unemployment rate of French speakers in the region (7.5%).
• English speakers earn a median after-tax income of $30,400 and a median employment income of $27,800. Compared to French speakers, they earn $3,200 less in after-tax income and $4,600 less in median employment income.
• Less than half of English speakers are engaged in full-time employment (43.9%), compared to 50.2% among French speakers. 
• Manufacturing is the industry with the highest vacancies in the region. The top 4 leading industries for English speakers in Bas-Saint-Laurent are ‘Manufacturing’, followed by ‘Health care and social assistance’, ‘Educational services’ and ‘Professional, scientific and technical services’. The top 4 leading industries for French speakers in Bas-Saint-Laurent are ‘Health care and social assistance’, followed by ‘Retail trade’, ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Educational services’.
• Vulnerable groups within the English-speaking labour force—such as youth, women, visible minorities, immigrants, and First Nations and Inuit individuals—tend to face greater labour market obstacles, as reflected in even higher unemployment rates and lower incomes.