Research summary: Education & Employment of the Rural Population in Canada
Title of the report: 2021 Census of Population: Education & Labour Market Profile of the Rural Population in Canada
Author of the report: Jessie Jiang
Alternate formats
Education & Employment of the Rural Population in Canada [PDF - 280 KB]
Large print, braille, MP3 (audio), e-text and DAISY formats are available on demand by ordering online or calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105.
Why this study
This research looks at the education and job status of people living in rural areas of Canada. It compares them to people living in non-rural (urban) areas.
What we did
Using data from the 2021 Census and the Labour Force Survey, the study looked at:
- the level of education rural people have, what they studied, and how it compares to people in urban areas
- how many rural people have jobs or are unemployed, compared to people in urban areas, and
- how much people living in rural areas earn from work, compared to people living in urban areas
What we found
When looking at education, this research found that:
- more than half of rural Canadians had a college or university education
- the rural population were less likely to have a university degree and more likely to have an apprenticeship diploma compared to the urban population
- women+ living in rural areas were more educated than men+ living in rural areas
- more rural Canadians studied business, humanities, health, arts, and social sciences compared to the urban population
When looking at employment, this research found that:
- the rural population had similar employment as the urban populations with the same levels of education
- men+ living in rural areas had higher employment rates and slightly lower unemployment rates than women+ living in rural areas
- rural Canadians studying education earned the most money
What it means
This research shows that finding a job in rural communities is improving. People living in rural areas with the same education as those in urban areas earn similar incomes. These findings can help the government of Canada to support policies and programs that can better the education and employment outcomes of those in rural communities.
Contact us
Learning Branch, Learning Policy & Services Directorate, Planning, Policy and Partnerships Division
Email: esdc.nc.sspb.research-recherche.dgpss.cn.edsc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca