Indigenous people have made important gains in higher education from 2016 to 2021, with the share of Indigenous people holding a bachelor's degree or higher increasing by 1.9 percentage points over that period. Increases were seen across all Indigenous groups, namely First Nations people, Métis and Inuit. This corresponded with better labour market outcomes compared to Indigenous people with lower levels of educational attainment.
Despite these educational gains and related advantages in the labour market, significant gaps remain when compared to the non-Indigenous population. These gaps in educational attainment and labour market outcomes are most notable among Indigenous people living in very remote areas, that is, further away from population centres. Although Indigenous people living in more remote areas may face additional barriers to pursuing higher levels of formal education, they often benefit from a closer connection to their communities, cultures, traditions, languages, lands, and resources.
A new study using data from the 2021 Census examines postsecondary educational attainment and labour market outcomes among First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults aged 25 to 64 years, examining variations by gender, and among those residing in remote areas, on reserve, and communities across Inuit Nunangat. Examining educational attainment and labour market outcomes by geography can help inform the development of infrastructure, policies and programs which aim to improve both access to higher education and employment opportunities.
