Tabulation: Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree (15), Aboriginal Identity (8), Major Field of Study - Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2011 (14), Attendance at School (3), Age Groups (13B) and Sex (3) for the Population Aged 15 Years and Over, in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2011 National Household Survey

• Major field of study - Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2011 (14): Total - Major field of study - Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2011
• Attendance at school (3): Total - Attendance at school
• Age groups (13B): Total - Age groups
• Sex (3): Total - Sex

This table details highest certificate, diploma or degree , aboriginal identity , major field of study - classification of instructional programs 2011 , attendance at school , age groups and sex for the population aged 15 years and over, in private households in Canada^{Footnote 3}
Global non-response rate (GNR)^{Footnote 4} = 26.1 %

Highest certificate, diploma or degree (15)	Aboriginal identity (8)
	Total - Population by Aboriginal identity	Aboriginal identity^Footnote 5	First Nations (North American Indian) single identity^Footnote 6	Métis single identity	Inuk (Inuit) single identity	Multiple Aboriginal identities^Footnote 7	Aboriginal identities not included elsewhere ^Footnote 8	Non-Aboriginal identity
Total - Highest certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 9	27,259,525	1,008,580	592,765	347,375	39,280	7,685	21,465	26,250,945
No certificate, diploma or degree	5,485,395	382,940	252,245	100,665	22,230	2,105	5,705	5,102,460
High school diploma or equivalent^Footnote 10	6,968,935	241,260	135,630	91,535	6,670	1,905	5,515	6,727,675
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 11	14,805,195	384,380	204,890	155,175	10,390	3,675	10,245	14,420,810
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma^Footnote 12	2,950,685	118,820	63,005	47,750	3,925	1,225	2,915	2,831,865
Trades certificate or diploma (other than apprenticeship)^Footnote 13	1,724,390	72,090	40,175	26,920	2,420	785	1,790	1,652,305
Registered Apprenticeship certificate^Footnote 14	1,226,295	46,735	22,835	20,825	1,510	440	1,125	1,179,565
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	4,970,025	162,270	87,715	64,935	4,540	1,505	3,575	4,807,750
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level^Footnote 15	1,200,130	28,215	16,405	10,355	505	290	675	1,171,910
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above	5,684,360	75,070	37,765	32,140	1,420	665	3,075	5,609,290
Bachelor's degree	3,634,425	53,580	26,885	23,190	1,075	435	1,995	3,580,850
University certificate or diploma above bachelor level	602,910	7,945	4,330	3,065	75	115	350	594,965
Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry	154,705	1,030	320	625	20	0	65	153,675
Master's degree	1,083,840	10,900	5,365	4,660	215	110	555	1,072,940
Earned doctorate^Footnote 16	208,480	1,625	865	600	40	0	110	206,855

Symbol(s)

Symbol ..

not available for a specific reference period

Symbol ...

not applicable

Symbol x

suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act

Symbol F

too unreliable to be published

Footnote(s)

Footnote 1

'Major field of study' is defined as the main discipline or subject of learning. It is collected for the highest certificate, diploma or degree above the high school or secondary school level and classified according to the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2011. This variable shows the 'primary groupings,' a CIP variant.

For more information on the CIP classification, see the Classification of Instructional Programs, Canada 2011, Catalogue no. 12-590-X available from: www.statcan.gc.ca/concepts/classification-eng.htm.

We recommend that users not make comparisons between categories of the CIP Canada 2011 and the CIP Canada 2000 classification systems on the basis of their labels. Even though many entries in the two classifications are similar, direct comparison could be inappropriate, given the numerous changes made at the detailed level to update the classification.

For comments on collection, dissemination or data quality for this variable, refer to the Education Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011006.

Footnote 2

Refers to attendance at a school, college, CEGEP or university at any time during the nine-month period between September 2010 and May 10, 2011. Attendance at school is reported only for course work that could be used as credit towards a certificate, diploma or degree.

Note: Data quality - Attendance at school

It is believed that a small proportion of respondents interpreted the National Household Survey (NHS) question as 'Has this person ever attended a school, college, CEGEP or university?,' rather than the actual question 'At any time since September 2010, has this person attended a school, college, CEGEP or university?' As a result, the 2011 NHS could have overestimated categories with small proportions of school attendance, such as older age groups. We recommend that the data on school attendance be used with caution.

For any other comments on collection, dissemination or data quality for this variable, refer to the Education Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011006.

Footnote 3

Excludes National Household Survey data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

Footnote 4

For the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) estimates, the global non-response rate (GNR) is used as an indicator of data quality. This indicator combines complete non-response (household) and partial non-response (question) into a single rate. The value of the GNR is presented to users. A smaller GNR indicates a lower risk of non-response bias and as a result, lower risk of inaccuracy. The threshold used for estimates' suppression is a GNR of 50% or more. For more information, please refer to the National Household Survey User Guide, 2011.

Footnote 5

'Aboriginal identity' includes persons who reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who reported Registered or Treaty Indian status, that is registered under the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported membership in a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.

Footnote 6

Users should be aware that the estimates associated with this variable are more affected than most by the incomplete enumeration of certain Indian reserves and Indian settlements in the National Household Survey (NHS). In 2011, there were a total of 36 Indian reserves and Indian settlements that were 'incompletely enumerated' in the NHS. For these reserves or settlements, NHS enumeration was either not permitted or was interrupted before it could be completed, or was not possible because of natural events (specifically forest fires in Northern Ontario). For additional information, please refer to the Aboriginal Peoples Reference Guide, National Household Survey, 2011.

Footnote 7

'Multiple Aboriginal identities' includes persons who reported being any two or all three of the following: First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit).

Footnote 8

'Aboriginal identities not included elsewhere' includes persons who did not report being First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) but who did report Registered or Treaty Indian status and/or membership in a First Nation or Indian band.

Footnote 9

'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' refers to the highest certificate, diploma or degree completed based on a hierarchy which is generally related to the amount of time spent 'in-class.' For postsecondary completers, a university education is considered to be a higher level of schooling than a college education, while a college education is considered to be a higher level of education than in the trades. Although some trades requirements may take as long or longer to complete than a given college or university program, the majority of time is spent in on-the-job paid training and less time is spent in the classroom.


For further definitions, refer to the National Household Survey Dictionary, Catalogue no. 99-000-X. For any comments on collection, dissemination or data quality for this variable, refer to the Education Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011006.

Footnote 10

'High school diploma or equivalent' refers to graduation from a secondary school or equivalent. It excludes persons with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.

Footnote 11

'Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree' includes 'apprenticeship or trades certificates or diplomas', 'college, CEGEP or other non-university certificates or diplomas' and university certificates, diplomas and degrees.

Footnote 12

'Trades certificate or diploma (other than apprenticeship)' includes trades certificates or diplomas such as pre-employment or vocational certificates and diplomas from brief trade programs completed at community colleges, institutes of technology, vocational centres, and similar institutions.

'Registered Apprenticeship certificate' includes Certificate of Qualification, Journeyperson's designation.

Footnote 13

'Trades certificate or diploma (other than apprenticeship)' includes trades certificates or diplomas such as pre-employment or vocational certificates and diplomas from brief trade programs completed at community colleges, institutes of technology, vocational centres, and similar institutions.

Footnote 14

'Registered Apprenticeship certificate' includes Certificate of Qualification, Journeyperson's designation.

Footnote 15

Comparisons with other data sources suggest that the category 'University certificate or diploma below bachelor level' was over-reported in the National Household Survey (NHS). This category likely includes some responses that are actually college certificates or diplomas, bachelor's degrees or other types of education (e.g., university transfer programs, bachelor's programs completed in other countries, incomplete bachelor's programs, non-university professional designations). We recommend users interpret the results for the 'University certificate or diploma below the bachelor's level' category with caution.

For any other comments on data quality for this variable, refer to the Education Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011006.

Footnote 16

'Earned doctorate.' This category refers to persons who have completed a doctorate degree awarded by a university. This includes, for example, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.). It does not include honorary doctorates.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011046.