Maple News reports that racialized immigrants in Canada—especially women—are reaching unprecedented levels of educational attainment, according to newly released data from Statistics Canada.
The research, which analyzed 2006 and 2021 census data, focused on immigrants aged 25 to 64 and charted education levels by racialized group, gender, and immigration status. One of the most striking findings: the share of racialized immigrants holding at least a bachelor’s degree has seen significant growth.
Among those who arrived in Canada before 2011, 41.5% held a bachelor’s degree or higher by 2021. However, for racialized immigrants admitted between 2011 and 2021, that number rose sharply to 55.8%. Overall, 46.4% of racialized immigrants across the country had completed a bachelor’s degree or more by 2021.
The upward trend is particularly noticeable among women. Racialized immigrant women are now among the most educated demographic groups in the country. The data shows they have increasingly outpaced their male counterparts and are rapidly closing gaps in educational and professional access.
The term “racialized group,” as used in the StatsCan report, is derived from the Employment Equity Act’s definition of “visible minorities,” which refers to persons—other than Indigenous peoples—who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
These educational gains reflect not only the background of immigrants arriving in Canada but also the country’s targeted immigration policies that often prioritize skilled workers and professionals with higher education.
The evolving education landscape has potential implications for Canada’s labor market, economic development, and immigration strategies moving forward. As more highly educated newcomers enter the workforce, their skills and credentials could play a pivotal role in addressing skilled labor shortages and driving innovation.
Maple News will continue to track how Canada’s newcomer population contributes to the country’s social and economic fabric, especially as policies evolve to foster diversity and inclusion in higher education and beyond.