Young, educated workers today are earning more than in previous generations, according to a new report from Desjardins.
But it’s not all rosy for young Canadians, with women in particular facing declining mental health and ongoing barriers in the labour market.
The new report from Desjardins is the first in a series looking at how young Canadians are faring in today’s economy.
“The narrative around how young people are faring tends to have a negative tone,” said Randall Bartlett, senior director of Canadian economics for Desjardins and co-author of the report.
“What we found in the data was a lot more room for optimism.”
The report builds on recent census data that showed the Canadian population is highly educated, with a larger proportion of people holding a post-secondary degree than any other G7 country.
Desjardins found young Canadians are more educated today than in the past, with more of them holding college certifications and bachelor’s degrees than many of the countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
That has implications for earnings, given that those who complete a post-secondary education tend to earn more money throughout their lifetime.
For the report, Desjardins compared the earnings of Canadians who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1991 versus in 2001.
They found the younger cohort earned several thousand dollars more each year, adjusted for inflation, than those who graduated a decade earlier, suggesting the return on education is rising.
There are also more young people from lower-income families pursuing post-secondary education today than in previous generations. For those who come from families in the bottom 20 per cent of income earners, enrolment increased 28 per cent. That’s compared with a 10 per cent increase in enrolment for young Canadians from families in the top 20 per cent of income earners.
However, the report found that there are very real challenges in the labour market for young people as they move from school to the workplace.
Young women, for example, were facing declining mental health even before the pandemic hit, while young people in general saw their mental health decline significantly during the pandemic.
Women also continue to disproportionately carry the burden of caring for a child or family member.
“If you look at adults ages 25 to 44, women report caring for children as the primary reason for working part-time, while it barely registers for men the same age,” the report said.
Working fewer hours or leaving the labour market can result in lower earnings, which explains some of the wage gap between men and women.
The report also highlights that young immigrants are doing better in the labour market than they have historically, but they still face challenges putting their skills to work.
Desjardins chief economist and lead report author Jimmy Jean said these findings have implications for policymakers in Canada.
The first is the important role subsidized childcare programs can play in helping women rejoin the labour market. Quebec, which has had subsidized childcare for over 20 years, has seen more women join the labour force during that time.
Jean said the federal government’s pursuit of a national childcare program, which aims to deliver childcare that costs on average $10 a day, is a good start.
“(But) it needs to be made widely and easily accessible, without having to go through the long waiting time. So the execution of it will be crucial going forward,” he said.
Addressing mental health would also be a “very worthwhile investment,” he said, noting that poor mental health can affect young people’s abilities to successfully transition into the workforce.
The other consideration for policymakers, Jean said, is how to make it easier for immigrants to get their foreign credentials recognized.
Amid labour shortages, various governments across Canada are moving to ease credential recognition, particularly for health care workers.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
