Status of Women Canada
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Status of Women Canada

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Women in Canada at a Glance Statistical Highlights

Women and Education

  • A larger proportion of girls than boys earn their high school diploma within the expected timeframe. In 2006, 84% of 19-year-old women had a high school diploma, compared with 77% of 19-year-old men.
  • In the last 20 years, dropout rates have fallen dramatically among both women and men. In 1990, 14% of women aged 20 to 24 years had dropped out of high school compared to 19% of men in the same age group. By 2009, the drop-out rate for both genders had declined by about half (7% and 10% respectively).
  • Women are under-represented among enrollees in all apprenticeship training programs except the food and service trades. For example, in 2007, women represented 3.7% of those enrolled in building construction programs.
  • Despite greater numbers of women in apprenticeship programs, many drop out and do not earn their certificate. In 2007, despite representing 3.0% of enrolments in the electrical, electronic and related trades, only 1.5% of all graduates from these programs were women.
  • Women make up the majority of enrolments in college programs; the proportion is even greater among graduates. In 2006/2007, women represented 56% of college enrolments and 59% of graduates.
  • Since the early 1990s, women have made up the majority of full-time students enrolled in undergraduate university programs. In 2008, 62% of all those who completed university undergraduate programs were women.
  • In 2009, 34% of women aged 25 to 34 had at least a bachelor's degree, compared to 26% of men. In 1990, 15% of women and 15.6% of men in that age group had a university degree.
  • Women and men tend to choose different university programs. For instance, in 2008, only 22% of graduates of architecture, engineering and related services programs were women (a small increase from 18% in 1990). In the mathematics, computer and information sciences programs, 30% of graduates were women, slightly down from 35% in 1990.

For additional information, consult the "Women and Education" chapter in Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report, 6th edition, or go to http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11542-eng.htm

Distribution of women aged 25 to 54, by highest level of educational attainment, Canada, 1990 to 2009

Sources: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, 1990 to 2009.

Text Equivalent of Chart 2

Percentage of women among university graduates, by field of study, Canada, 1992 and 2008
Field of study 1992 2008
percentage
Sources: Statistics Canada, Postsecondary Student Information System, 1992 and 2008.
Total – Instructional programs 56.4 60.0
Architecture, engineering and related services 17.5 22.2
Mathematics, computer and information sciences 35.2 30.4
Personal, protective and transportation services 18.2 44.9
Business, management and public administration 51.4 53.0
Agriculture, natural resources and conservation 36.7 55.9
Physical and life sciences, and technologies 45.6 57.3
Humanities 63.7 64.3
Visual and performing arts and communication technology 65.9 66.5
Social and behavioural sciences, law 59.3 67.0
Other instructional programs 73.6 69.4
Education 72.6 76.1
Health, parks, recreation and fitness 68.0 77.0

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Date Modified:
2013-01-11