Strong college sector, highly educated immigrants bolster talent pool
The labour market is tight and recruitment is a challenge but Statistics Canada’s latest study has revealed some encouraging news – the country has the most educated workforce among the G7 nations.
The latest release of 2021 census data shows Canada continues to lead the G7 countries, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States, thanks to its strong college sector and highly educated immigrants.
Over 57 per cent of workers aged 25 to 64 have a college or university credential, while almost one in four working-age people had a college certificate or diploma or similar credential in 2021, more than any other G7 country.
Almost one-third of the working-age population, or 6.4 million people, reported having a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, which is up 4.3 percentage points over 2016, according to The Canadian Press.
Immigrants make up nearly half of that growth, but are still more likely to be overqualified for the jobs they have. The report also said that highly educated workers with a bachelor's degree or higher were more capable of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, as they often worked in sectors that were more suited to remote work.
