Postsecondary Enrolment Rates Among 19-Year-Olds In Canada – increased steadily from 2001 to 2014, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution

The objective of this study was to document trends in postsecondary enrolment rates among 19-year-olds matched to their parents in the personal income tax files. Results by quintile of parental income, province of parental residence and sex were produced.

The study found that the percentage of 19-year-olds enrolled in a postsecondary education program increased steadily from 2001 to 2014 among youth from families across the income distribution, but particularly at the bottom of the income distribution. Postsecondary enrolment rates increased fastest among youth from Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario, as well as from other Eastern provinces. Among 19-year-olds from Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the largest gains occurred at the bottom of the income distribution.

Gains in enrolment rates were more moderate among 19-year-olds from Western provinces. Among those from Saskatchewan, no increases were registered, and this was largely because of a considerable decline in postsecondary enrolment among youth from the bottom of the income distribution.

Young women were more likely to be enrolled than young men throughout the period, with the gap remaining more or less constant over the 13-year span. The enrolment trends by parental province of residence and parental income were also similar for young men and young women.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Postsecondary Enrolment by Parental Income: Recent National and Provincial Trends