Despite the efforts of recent years to improve the labor market situation of Quebecers from visible minorities, there is still work to be done to reach a parity threshold. This is revealed by the most recent report from the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), released on Tuesday.
A comparable employment rate
The study shows an increasingly active participation of black people in the labor market, underlines Luc Cloutier-Villeneuve, analyst in labor statistics at the ISQ and author of the study. According to him, this is one of the most striking elements. “The rates of activity on the labor market among university graduates and holders of post-secondary training are relatively identical to the population that does not come from a visible minority”, indicates the expert. In fact, all ages included, the employment rate reaches the threshold of 78.8% among Blacks, compared to 77.5% for non-visible minorities.
Quebec behind British Columbia
Quebec has better equity between people from visible minorities and white people than some other provinces in Canada, including Ontario. Blacks (78.8% in Quebec, compared to 68.8% in Ontario), Latin Americans (76.2%, compared to 71.4%) and Arabs (70.8%, compared to 57.4%) all have a higher employment rate in the Belle Province. However, British Columbia is more equal on the side of black people (76.1%) and Arabs (60.6%). Luc Cloutier-Villeneuve notes that several positive changes have been made since the previous census, in 2016, but the game is far from won.
A shrinking income gap
The average employment income of people from visible minorities aged 25 to 64 ($43,240) is still lower than the average employment income of white people ($56,250), confirms the study. But this gap is shrinking. In 2019, it was 22%, while in 2015, four years earlier, it reached 28%. Specifically, in 2019, average employment income ranged from approximately $41,800 (Black people) to $47,700 (Arab people).
Differences by age
Parity varies by age, says the ISQ study. Among people aged 55 to 64, the gap is small, which would reveal better integration into society, argues Luc Cloutier-Villeneuve. “We know that there are variables that affect integration, whether it is mother tongue, education, length of residence [au Québec]and the order in the family tree,” explains the expert.
Knowledge of French, a factor
A number of factors may explain the differences observed in the study, underlines Luc Cloutier-Villeneuve. Among them, the statistical analyst mentions the knowledge of French or even the recognition of diplomas. “What is clear is that in terms of subsequent analysis, it would be interesting to dig deeper into these aspects to understand why these gaps persist. »