Caribana 2010: Celebrating our histories, Celebrating our diversities

July 8, 2010 OPSEU Workers of Colour Caucus (WOCC) invites you to join the Caribana parade on July 31, 2010. more...

"The growing gap": the role of race and gender in the Ontario labour market

June 10, 2010 According to a study commissioned by the Center for Policy Alternatives, racialized Ontarians are more likely to live in poverty, to face barriers in Ontario workplaces, even when they get a job, and are more likely to earn less and to live in poverty than the rest of Ontarians. The study looks at 2006 census data to describe the labour market experiences of racialized Ontarians. Among the core findings of the study:

• Though racialized Ontarians had a higher participation rate in the labour market than non-racialized Ontarians, they faced higher unemployment. That is, despite a willingness to work, the rate of unemployment among racialized Ontarians was strikingly high when compared to their non-racialized cohorts, particularly when gender is accounted for. For example, racialized women had an unemployment rate that was 63% higher than non-racialized women and that was 75% higher than non-racialized men. Of racialized Ontarians that identify as black, the rate of unemployment was 76% as compared to non-racialized Ontarians.

• Racialized workers were paid 77.5 cents for every dollar that non-racialized workers were paid. Looking at employment earnings by gender complicates the picture even further. Racialized women earn 84.7 cents for every dollar non-racialized women were paid in 2005; and 53.4 cents for every dollar non-racialized men were paid in 2005. The multiple impacts of “race” and gender likely have a disproportionately negative effect on labour market outcomes.

• Often differences in labour market earnings and employment are attributed to differences in educational attainment, immigration status, or other factors other than “race” and gender. However, even when controlling for such factors, differences between racialized and non-racialized groups did not close. For example, first generation racialized Ontarians aged 25-44 who have a university education earned less than non-racialized immigrants of the same age and educational attainment. Where 1st generation racialized women earned $34,337, 1st generation non-racialized women earned $42, 675 as compared to $77, 732 for 1st generation non-racialized men.

• Differences in access to employment and in employment incomes are reflected in shockingly higher poverty rates for racialized Ontarians. The statistics indicate that while 6% of non-racialized families live in poverty, nearly three times the share of racialized families, 18.7%, live in poverty.

For the complete report, click here: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/role-race-and-gender-ontarios-growing-gap