Tabulation: Visible Minority (15), Age Groups (10), Sex (3) and Selected Demographic, Cultural, Labour Force, Educational and Income Characteristics (315) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey

• Visible minority (15): Total - Population by visible minority
• Age groups (10): Total - Age groups

This table details visible minority , age groups , sex and selected demographic, cultural, labour force, educational and income characteristics for the population in private households in Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Écosse
Global non-response rate (GNR)^{Footnote 1} = 28.2 %

Selected demographic, cultural, educational, labour force and income characteristics (315)	Sex (3)
	Total - Sex	Male	Female
Total population aged 15 years and over in private households by marital status^Footnote 2	768,060	368,640	399,425
Married or living with a common-law partner	452,215	225,730	226,485
Married (and not separated)	375,290	187,345	187,945
Living common law	76,930	38,385	38,540
Not married and not living with a common-law partner	315,845	142,905	172,940
Single (never legally married)	202,355	106,985	95,370
Separated	22,865	9,275	13,590
Divorced	45,195	17,400	27,795
Widowed	45,435	9,245	36,185
Total - Census family status^Footnote 3	906,175	439,565	466,610
Married spouses	371,975	185,870	186,110
Common-law partners	76,930	38,385	38,540
Lone parents	45,685	8,695	36,985
Children in census families	248,095	132,450	115,645
Persons not in census families^Footnote 4	163,485	74,160	89,330
Total - Mobility status 1 year ago^Footnote 5	897,560	435,270	462,290
Non-movers	794,990	385,865	409,125
Movers	102,575	49,410	53,165
Non-migrants	63,685	30,240	33,445
Migrants	38,890	19,165	19,720
Internal migrants	33,910	16,510	17,400
Intraprovincial migrants	19,310	9,180	10,125
Interprovincial migrants	14,605	7,335	7,275
External migrants	4,975	2,655	2,320
Total - Mobility status 5 years ago^Footnote 6	862,360	417,240	445,125
Non-movers	576,250	278,960	297,290
Movers	286,115	138,280	147,835
Non-migrants	163,670	77,805	85,860
Migrants	122,450	60,470	61,975
Internal migrants	105,250	51,565	53,685
Intraprovincial migrants	54,290	26,175	28,110
Interprovincial migrants	50,965	25,395	25,575
External migrants	17,200	8,905	8,290
Total population by mother tongue^Footnote 7	906,170	439,565	466,605
English	836,855	404,850	432,005
French	30,155	14,780	15,375
Non-official language	34,720	17,755	16,965
English and French	1,315	575	740
English and non-official language	2,770	1,415	1,345
French and non-official language	300	160	145
English, French and non-official language	65	0	40
Total population by language spoken most often at home^Footnote 8	906,170	439,570	466,610
English	867,540	420,195	447,345
French	16,170	7,885	8,285
Non-official language	17,475	9,065	8,415
English and French	925	480	450
English and non-official language	3,975	1,895	2,075
French and non-official language	45	20	25
English, French and non-official language	35	20	15
Total population by knowledge of official languages^Footnote 9	906,175	439,570	466,605
English only	810,160	396,560	413,600
French only	735	320	415
English and French	94,110	42,205	51,910
Neither English nor French	1,165	485	685
Total population aged 15 years and over by language used most often at work^Footnote 10	520,820	264,640	256,180
English	509,945	259,630	250,315
French	6,670	3,030	3,640
Non-official language	1,690	895	795
Aboriginal	755	425	330
Non-Aboriginal	930	470	465
English and French	1,880	785	1,100
English and non-official language	545	255	290
French and non-official language	0	0	0
English, French and non-official language	65	0	45
Total population by citizenship^Footnote 11	906,175	439,565	466,610
Canadian citizens	884,060	428,370	455,695
Canadian citizens only	874,095	423,390	450,705
Citizens of Canada and at least one other country	9,965	4,980	4,985
Not Canadian citizens^Footnote 12	22,110	11,195	10,915
Total population in private households by immigrant status and period of immigration^Footnote 13	906,170	439,565	466,610
Non-immigrants^Footnote 14	851,035	411,880	439,155
Immigrants^Footnote 15	48,275	23,850	24,425
Before 1971	12,895	6,255	6,640
1971 to 1980	7,690	3,655	4,035
1981 to 1990	4,915	2,435	2,480
1991 to 2000	6,600	3,215	3,385
2001 to 2011^Footnote 16	16,175	8,290	7,885
2001 to 2005	5,315	2,590	2,730
2006 to 2011^Footnote 17	10,860	5,710	5,150
Non-permanent residents^Footnote 18	6,870	3,835	3,025
Total immigrant population in private households by age at immigration^Footnote 19	48,275	23,850	24,420
Under 5 years	7,030	3,365	3,670
5 to 14 years	9,160	4,775	4,385
15 to 24 years	9,785	4,765	5,015
25 to 44 years	18,555	8,930	9,635
45 years and over	3,740	2,015	1,725
Total population in private households by immigrant status and selected places of birth^Footnote 20	906,175	439,570	466,605
Non-immigrants^Footnote 21	851,035	411,880	439,155
Born in province of residence	686,320	332,185	354,140
Born outside province of residence	164,710	79,700	85,015
Immigrants^Footnote 22	48,275	23,850	24,425
Americas	11,040	4,935	6,100
United States	8,275	3,605	4,670
Jamaica	180	105	75
Guyana	170	80	90
Haiti	35	0	0
Mexico	185	70	110
Trinidad and Tobago	205	95	110
Colombia	295	125	170
El Salvador	50	20	25
Peru	110	60	40
Chile	70	20	50
Other places of birth in Americas	1,470	730	740
Europe	20,535	10,310	10,220
United Kingdom^Footnote 23	11,000	5,390	5,605
Italy	480	285	195
Germany	2,385	1,190	1,190
Poland	575	260	310
Portugal	120	60	55
Netherlands	1,525	775	750
France	395	215	185
Romania	190	60	135
Russian Federation	485	290	200
Greece	355	210	145
Ukraine	245	110	130
Croatia	170	65	100
Hungary	185	105	80
Bosnia and Herzegovina	175	105	60
Serbia	35	0	20
Ireland, Republic of	635	340	295
Other places of birth in Europe	1,575	825	750
Africa	2,710	1,425	1,285
Morocco	60	35	25
Algeria	25	0	0
Egypt	570	285	290
South Africa, Republic of	310	145	160
Nigeria	215	165	50
Ethiopia	170	85	85
Kenya	125	60	65
Other places of birth in Africa	1,235	630	605
Asia	13,560	6,965	6,600
India	1,415	785	630
China^Footnote 24	1,710	700	1,010
Philippines	1,325	540	790
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	290	110	180
Viet Nam^Footnote 25	450	200	255
Pakistan	350	205	145
Sri Lanka	190	85	110
Iran^Footnote 26	910	515	395
Korea, South^Footnote 27	575	295	275
Lebanon	1,590	895	695
Taiwan	435	230	210
Iraq	455	230	225
Bangladesh	330	155	175
Afghanistan	260	95	160
Japan	140	40	100
Turkey	170	95	70
Other places of birth in Asia	2,965	1,785	1,180
Oceania and other^Footnote 28	430	210	220
Fiji	0	0	0
Other places of birth^Footnote 29	415	195	220
Non-permanent residents^Footnote 30	6,870	3,835	3,025
Total population in private households by generation status^Footnote 31	906,175	439,565	466,605
First generation^Footnote 32	57,940	29,105	28,835
Second generation^Footnote 33	65,555	31,915	33,640
Third generation or more^Footnote 34	782,675	378,545	404,130
Total population by selected religions^Footnote 35	906,175	439,565	466,605
Buddhist	2,210	1,025	1,180
Christian	690,460	323,005	367,460
Anglican	100,120	47,380	52,740
Baptist	80,815	37,000	43,815
Catholic	298,270	141,225	157,045
Christian Orthodox	3,370	1,925	1,450
Lutheran	9,485	4,675	4,810
Pentecostal	9,595	4,095	5,500
Presbyterian	23,550	11,090	12,465
United Church	109,700	49,470	60,235
Other Christian	55,555	26,150	29,405
Hindu	1,850	925	930
Jewish	1,800	875	930
Muslim	8,505	4,830	3,670
Sikh	385	200	185
Traditional (Aboriginal) Spirituality	570	295	280
Other religions	2,720	1,090	1,630
No religious affiliation	197,670	107,320	90,345
Total population aged 25 to 64 years by highest certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 36	507,995	243,435	264,560
No certificate, diploma or degree	74,225	40,735	33,490
High school diploma or equivalent^Footnote 37	110,280	52,850	57,430
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 38	323,495	149,850	173,635
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma^Footnote 39	66,520	42,990	23,530
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	117,130	47,770	69,355
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level^Footnote 40	20,935	8,295	12,645
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above	118,905	50,795	68,105
Bachelor's degree	76,980	32,820	44,155
University certificate, diploma or degree above bachelor level^Footnote 41	41,925	17,975	23,950
Total population aged 15 years and over by major field of study - Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2011^Footnote 42	768,060	368,635	399,425
No postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 43	354,820	174,740	180,085
Education	34,895	9,280	25,620
Visual and performing arts, and communications technologies	9,845	5,015	4,835
Humanities	19,730	8,245	11,480
Social and behavioural sciences and law	33,585	9,715	23,875
Business, management and public administration	92,765	26,325	66,440
Physical and life sciences and technologies	14,490	7,505	6,985
Mathematics, computer and information sciences	14,850	8,870	5,975
Architecture, engineering, and related technologies	92,620	87,370	5,250
Agriculture, natural resources and conservation	7,860	5,075	2,790
Health and related fields^Footnote 44	61,385	9,190	52,195
Personal, protective and transportation services	31,175	17,305	13,865
Other fields of study^Footnote 45	35	0	35
Total population aged 15 years and over by location of study compared with province or territory of residence^Footnote 46	768,060	368,635	399,425
No postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	354,820	174,735	180,080
With postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	413,240	193,900	219,340
Location of study inside Canada	387,840	180,855	206,985
Same as province or territory of residence	312,700	142,110	170,590
Another province or territory	75,140	38,745	36,395
Location of study outside Canada	25,400	13,045	12,360
Total population aged 15 years and over by labour force status^Footnote 47	768,060	368,635	399,425
In the labour force	484,585	247,730	236,860
Employed	435,895	220,815	215,080
Unemployed	48,690	26,915	21,775
Not in the labour force	283,475	120,915	162,565
Participation rate	63.1	67.2	59.3
Employment rate	56.8	59.9	53.8
Unemployment rate	10.0	10.9	9.2
Total labour force aged 15 years and over by class of worker^Footnote 48	484,590	247,725	236,860
Class of worker - not applicable^Footnote 49	9,940	4,970	4,970
All classes of worker^Footnote 50	474,650	242,755	231,895
Employee	434,255	216,680	217,575
Self-employed^Footnote 51	40,395	26,075	14,320
Total labour force population aged 15 years and over by occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011^Footnote 52	484,590	247,725	236,860
Occupation - not applicable^Footnote 53	9,935	4,970	4,970
All occupations^Footnote 54	474,650	242,755	231,890
0 Management occupations	48,000	28,820	19,180
1 Business, finance and administration occupations	70,360	18,490	51,870
2 Natural and applied sciences and related occupations	28,275	23,065	5,210
3 Health occupations	33,580	6,080	27,500
4 Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services	61,450	21,525	39,930
5 Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport	11,305	5,085	6,220
6 Sales and service occupations	116,265	45,190	71,080
7 Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations	69,025	65,975	3,050
8 Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations	18,265	15,385	2,875
9 Occupations in manufacturing and utilities	18,130	13,150	4,980
Total labour force population aged 15 years and over by industry - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2007^Footnote 55	484,585	247,725	236,860
Industry - not applicable^Footnote 56	9,935	4,970	4,970
All industries^Footnote 57	474,650	242,760	231,890
11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	18,340	14,740	3,600
21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	3,670	3,270	400
22 Utilities	2,955	2,250	705
23 Construction	32,240	28,840	3,405
31-33 Manufacturing	33,880	25,050	8,830
41 Wholesale trade	15,380	11,235	4,145
44-45 Retail trade	60,900	26,180	34,720
48-49 Transportation and warehousing	19,420	15,340	4,080
51 Information and cultural industries	9,890	5,515	4,375
52 Finance and insurance	15,735	5,380	10,355
53 Real estate and rental and leasing	7,020	4,005	3,015
54 Professional, scientific and technical services	23,900	12,795	11,105
55 Management of companies and enterprises	330	160	170
56 Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	23,775	12,395	11,380
61 Educational services	38,895	12,430	26,465
62 Health care and social assistance	59,665	10,090	49,575
71 Arts, entertainment and recreation	9,635	4,670	4,960
72 Accommodation and food services	31,705	11,160	20,550
81 Other services (except public administration)	20,230	9,650	10,580
91 Public administration	47,075	27,600	19,475
Population aged 15 years and over who worked full year, full time and with employment income in 2010^Footnote 58	260,795	141,090	119,705
Median employment income in 2010 $	43,057	48,697	37,776
Average employment income in 2010 $	49,582	55,159	43,009
Total income in 2010 of population aged 15 years and over^Footnote 59	768,065	368,635	399,425
Without income	35,530	15,500	20,025
With income	732,530	353,130	379,395
Under $5,000^Footnote 60	64,915	29,655	35,255
$5,000 to $9,999	67,215	23,030	44,185
$10,000 to $14,999	69,560	23,755	45,805
$15,000 to $19,999	76,370	30,280	46,090
$20,000 to $29,999	113,660	49,790	63,870
$30,000 to $39,999	97,630	46,925	50,705
$40,000 to $49,999	72,510	40,475	32,030
$50,000 to $59,999	51,500	31,045	20,450
$60,000 to $79,999	66,320	40,730	25,590
$80,000 to $99,999	27,960	18,625	9,340
$100,000 and over	24,890	18,825	6,070
$100,000 to $124,999	12,475	8,965	3,505
$125,000 and over	12,425	9,855	2,565
Median income $^Footnote 61	27,570	34,073	22,347
Average income $^Footnote 62	35,478	42,109	29,306
After-tax income in 2010 of population 15 years and over^Footnote 63	768,060	368,640	399,425
Without after-tax income	35,720	15,530	20,195
With after-tax income	732,340	353,110	379,230
Under $5,000^Footnote 64	67,150	30,005	37,140
$5,000 to $9,999	69,455	23,480	45,975
$10,000 to $14,999	71,220	24,800	46,420
$15,000 to $19,999	86,135	34,870	51,275
$20,000 to $29,999	136,290	61,875	74,415
$30,000 to $39,999	112,870	58,585	54,280
$40,000 to $49,999	75,750	45,395	30,350
$50,000 to $59,999	49,335	30,155	19,180
$60,000 to $79,999	42,140	27,205	14,940
$80,000 to $99,999	11,905	8,760	3,140
$100,000 and over	10,095	7,980	2,110
Median after-tax income $^Footnote 65	25,178	30,246	20,947
Average after-tax income $^Footnote 66	29,781	34,617	25,279
Composition of total income in 2010 of population 15 years and over %^Footnote 67	100.0	100.0	100.0
Market income %^Footnote 68	84.6	87.6	80.6
Employment income %^Footnote 69	69.5	71.8	66.6
Wages and salaries %^Footnote 70	66.6	68.4	64.2
Self-employment income %^Footnote 71	2.9	3.4	2.3
Investment income %^Footnote 72	4.4	4.3	4.5
Retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities %^Footnote 73	9.0	10.1	7.5
Other money income %^Footnote 74	1.7	1.4	2.0
Government transfer payments %^Footnote 75	15.4	12.4	19.4
Canada/Quebec Pension Plan benefits %^Footnote 76	4.9	4.5	5.5
Old Age Security pensions and Guaranteed Income Supplement %^Footnote 77	4.2	3.1	5.6
Employment Insurance benefits %^Footnote 78	2.8	2.8	2.9
Child benefits %^Footnote 79	1.4	0.1	3.2
Other income from government sources %^Footnote 80	2.1	1.9	2.3
Income taxes paid as a % of total income^Footnote 81	16.1	17.8	13.8
After-tax income as a % of total income^Footnote 82	83.9	82.2	86.2
Net capital gains or losses as a % of total income^Footnote 83	1.2	1.3	1.1
Total population by income status in 2010 based on after-tax low-income measure^Footnote 84	906,170	439,565	466,605
Population for the income status based on after-tax low-income measure	896,635	434,860	461,780
Low-income population	156,245	69,440	86,805
Prevalence of low income %	17.4	16.0	18.8
Other population	740,390	365,420	374,975
Concept not applicable^Footnote 85	9,540	4,705	4,830

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

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 2

Marital status
Refers to the marital status of the person, taking into account his/her common-law status. Persons who are married or living common law may be of opposite sex or of the same sex. The classification is as follows:
Married (and not separated): A person who is married and has not separated or obtained a divorce, and whose spouse is living.

Common-law: A person who is living with another person as a couple but who is not legally married to that person.

Separated: A person who is married but who no longer lives with his/her spouse (for any reason other than illness, work or school) and who has not obtained a divorce. Persons living common law are not included in this category.

Divorced: A person who has obtained a legal divorce and who has not remarried. Persons living common law are not included in this category.

Widowed: A person who has lost his/her spouse through death and who has not remarried. Persons living common law are not included in this category.

Single (never legally married): A person who has never married or a person whose marriage has been annulled and who has not remarried. Persons living common law are not included in this category.

Footnote 3

Classification of persons according to whether or not they are members of a census family and the status they have in the census family (a census family is composed of a married couple or two persons living common law, with or without children, or of a lone parent living with at least one child in the same dwelling). A person can be a married spouse, a common-law partner, a lone parent, a child or a person not in a census family.

Footnote 4

Persons not in census families may live with relatives (without forming a census family with them), they may live with non-relatives only or they may live alone.

Footnote 5

Refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, in relation to the place of residence on the same date one year earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers. Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside Canada at the earlier reference date.

Footnote 6

Refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, in relation to the place of residence on the same date five years earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers. Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside Canada at the earlier reference date.

Footnote 7

Refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual on May 10, 2011.

Footnote 8

Refers to the language spoken most often at home by the individual on May 10, 2011.

Footnote 9

Refers to the ability to conduct a conversation in English only, in French only, in both English and French, or in neither English nor French.

Footnote 10

Population by language used most often at work.

Refers to the language used most often at work, as reported on May 10, 2011 by the individuals aged 15 years and over who worked since January 1, 2010.

Footnote 11

Citizenship refers to the legal citizenship status of a person. Citizenship can be by birth or naturalization. A person may have more than one citizenship. A person may be stateless, that is, they may have no citizenship.

Footnote 12

Includes persons who are stateless.

Footnote 13

Period of immigration refers to the period in which the immigrant first obtained his or her landed immigrant/permanent resident status. A landed immigrant/permanent resident refers to a person who has been granted the right to live permanently in Canada by immigration authorities.

Footnote 14

Non-immigrant refers to a person who is a Canadian citizen by birth.

Footnote 15

Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Some immigrants are Canadian citizens, while others are not. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

Footnote 16

Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

Footnote 17

Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

Footnote 18

Non-permanent resident refers to a person from another country who has a work or study permit, or who is a refugee claimant, and any non-Canadian-born family member living in Canada with them.

Footnote 19

Age at immigration refers to the age at which an immigrant first obtained landed immigrant/permanent resident status. Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live permanently in Canada by immigration authorities.

Footnote 20

The places of birth selected are the most frequently reported by immigrants at the Canada level.

Footnote 21

Non-immigrant refers to a person who is a Canadian citizen by birth.

Footnote 22

Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Some immigrants are Canadian citizens, while others are not. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

Footnote 23

The official name of United Kingdom is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. United Kingdom includes Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland (excludes Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and British Overseas Territories).

Footnote 24

China excludes Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region.

Footnote 25

The official name of Viet Nam is Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Footnote 26

The official name of Iran is Islamic Republic of Iran.

Footnote 27

The official name of South Korea is Republic of Korea.

Footnote 28

The category 'Oceania and other' includes places of birth in Oceania and responses not included elsewhere, such as 'born at sea.'

Footnote 29

The category 'Other places of birth' includes other places of birth in Oceania and responses not included elsewhere, such as 'born at sea.'

Footnote 30

Non-permanent resident refers to a person from another country who has a work or study permit, or who is a refugee claimant, and any non-Canadian-born family member living in Canada with them.

Footnote 31

Generation status refers to whether or not the person or the person's parents were born in Canada. It identifies persons as being first generation, second generation or third generation or more.

Footnote 32

'First generation' includes persons who were born outside Canada. For the most part, these are people who are now, or have ever been, immigrants to Canada.

Footnote 33

'Second generation' includes persons who were born in Canada and had at least one parent born outside Canada. For the most part, these are the children of immigrants.

Footnote 34

'Third generation or more' includes persons who were born in Canada with both parents born in Canada.

Footnote 35

Religion refers to the person's self-identification as having a connection or affiliation with any religious denomination, group, body, sect, cult or other religiously defined community or system of belief. Religion is not limited to formal membership in a religious organization or group. Persons without a religious connection or affiliation can self-identify as atheist, agnostic or humanist, or can provide another applicable response.

Footnote 36

'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 37

'High school diploma or equivalent' includes persons who have graduated from a secondary school or equivalent. It excludes persons with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.

Footnote 38

'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 39

'Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma' includes Registered Apprenticeship certificates (including Certificate of Qualification, Journeyperson's designation) and other 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 40

Comparisons with other data sources suggest that the category 'University certificate or diploma below the bachelor's level' was over-reported in the 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.

Footnote 41

'University certificate, diploma or degree above bachelor level' includes the categories 'University certificate or diploma above bachelor level,' 'Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry,' 'Master's degree' and 'Earned doctorate.'

Footnote 42

'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.



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 43

'No postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree' includes persons who have not completed a registered apprenticeship certificate (including Certificate of Qualification, Journeyperson's designation) or other trades certificate or diploma, a college, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma, or a university certificate, diploma or degree.

Footnote 44

Called 'Health, parks, recreation and fitness' in CIP Canada 2000.

Footnote 45

Includes 'Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, other.'

Footnote 46

'Location of study compared with province or territory of residence' indicates whether the 'Location of study' is the same as the province or territory of residence in 2011, a different Canadian province or territory, or outside Canada. 'Location of study' refers to the province, territory or country of the institution where the highest certificate, diploma or degree above the high school level was completed.



Users should be aware that some respondents may have reported the physical location of study rather than the location of the certificate, diploma or degree-granting institution. This could affect the responses of those who obtained a certificate, diploma or degree through a joint program or by distance learning with credentials granted in another province or country. In particular, a number of persons reported a location of study for a university credential in one of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), even though there were no educational institutions in the territories with the authority to grant university degrees.



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

Footnote 47

Refers to whether a person was employed, unemployed or not in the labour force during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011.

In the past, this variable was called Labour force activity.

Footnote 48

Refers to whether an employed person is an employee or is self-employed. The self-employed include persons with or without a business, as well as unpaid family workers.

Footnote 49

Includes unemployed persons aged 15 years and over who have never worked for pay or in self-employment or who had last worked prior to January 1, 2010 only.

Footnote 50

Experienced labour force refers to persons who, during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011, were employed and the unemployed who had last worked for pay or in self-employment in either 2010 or 2011.

Footnote 51

Includes self-employed with an incorporated business and self-employed with an unincorporated business. Also included among the self-employed are unpaid family workers.

Footnote 52

Refers to the kind of work performed by persons during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011, as determined by their kind of work and the description of the main activities in their job. The 2011 National Household Survey occupation data are produced according to the NOC 2011.

Footnote 53

Unemployed persons aged 15 years and over who have never worked for pay or in self-employment or who had last worked prior to January 1, 2010 only.

Footnote 54

Experienced labour force refers to persons who, during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011, were employed and the unemployed who had last worked for pay or in self-employment in either 2010 or 2011.

Footnote 55

Refers to the general nature of the business carried out in the establishment where the person worked. The 2011 National Household Survey industry data are produced according to the NAICS 2007.

Footnote 56

Unemployed persons aged 15 years and over who have never worked for pay or in self-employment or who had last worked prior to January 1, 2010 only.

Footnote 57

Experienced labour force refers to persons who, during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011, were employed and the unemployed who had last worked for pay or in self-employment in either 2010 or 2011.

Footnote 58

Earnings or employment income - Refers to total income received by persons 15 years of age and over during calendar year 2010 as wages and salaries, net income from a non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice, and/or net farm self-employment income.

Wages and salaries - Refers to gross wages and salaries before deductions for such items as income tax, pensions and Employment Insurance. Included in this source are military pay and allowances, tips, commissions and cash bonuses, benefits from wage-loss replacement plans or income-maintenance insurance plans, supplementary unemployment benefits from an employer or union as well as all types of casual earnings during calendar year 2010. Other employment income such as taxable benefits, research grants and royalties are included.


Net non-farm income from unincorporated business or professional practice - Refers to net income (gross receipts minus expenses of operation such as wages, rents and depreciation) received during calendar year 2010 from the respondent's non-farm unincorporated business or professional practice. In the case of partnerships, only the respondent's share was reported. Also included is net income from persons babysitting in their own homes, persons providing room and board to non-relatives, self-employed fishers, hunters and trappers, operators of direct distributorships such as those selling and delivering cosmetics, as well as freelance activities of artists, writers, music teachers, hairdressers, dressmakers, etc.

Net farm income - Refers to net income (gross receipts from farm sales minus depreciation and cost of operation) received during calendar year 2010 from the operation of a farm, either on the respondent's own account or in partnership. In the case of partnerships, only the respondent's share of income was reported. Included with gross receipts are cash advances received in 2010, dividends from cooperatives, rebates and farm-support payments to farmers from federal, provincial and regional agricultural programs (for example, milk subsidies and marketing board payments) and gross insurance proceeds such as payments from the AgriInvest and AgriStability programs. The value of income 'in kind,' such as agricultural products produced and consumed on the farm, is excluded.

Median income of individuals - The median income of a specified group of income recipients is that amount which divides their income size distribution, ranked by size of income, into two halves, i.e., the incomes of the first half of individuals are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Median income is calculated from the unrounded number of individuals (e.g., males aged 45 to 54 years) with income in that group.

Average income of individuals - Average income of individuals refers to the weighted mean total income of individuals aged 15 years and over who reported income for 2010. Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of individuals (e.g., males aged 45 to 54 years) by the number of individuals with income in that group.

Median and average incomes of individuals will be calculated for those individuals who are at least aged 15 years and who have an income (positive or negative).

The above concept and procedures also apply in the calculation of these statistics for earnings.

Work activity in 2010 - Refers to the number of weeks in which a person worked for pay or in self-employment in 2010 at all jobs held, even if only for a few hours, and whether these weeks were mostly full time (30 hours or more per week) or mostly part time (less than 30 hours per week).

Age - Refers to the age at last birthday before the reference date, that is, before May 10, 2011.

Footnote 59

Total income - Total income refers to monetary receipts from certain sources, before income taxes and deductions, during calendar year 2010. It includes employment income from wages, salaries, tips, commissions and net income from self-employment (for both unincorporated farm and non-farm activities); income from government sources, such as social assistance, child benefits, employment insurance, old age security pension, Canada or Quebec pension plan benefits and disability income; income from employer and personal pension sources, such as private pensions and payments from annuities and RRIFs; income from investment sources, such as dividends and interest on bonds, accounts, GICs and mutual funds; and other regular cash income, such as child support payments received, spousal support payments (alimony) received and scholarships. The monetary receipts included are those that tend to be of a regular and recurring nature. It excludes one-time receipts, such as lottery winnings, gambling winnings, cash inheritances, lump sum insurance settlements, capital gains and RRSP withdrawals. Capital gains are excluded because they are not by their nature regular and recurring. It is further assumed that they are less likely to be fully spent in the period in which they are received, unlike income that is regular and recurring. Also excluded are employer's contributions to registered pension plans, Canada and Quebec pension plans, and employment insurance. Finally, voluntary inter-household transfers, imputed rent, goods and services produced for barter, and goods produced for own consumption are excluded from this total income definition.

Median income of individuals - The median income of a specified group of income recipients is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e., the incomes of the first half of individuals are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Median income is calculated from the individuals with income in that group (e.g., males aged 45 to 54 years).

Average income of individuals - Average income of individuals refers to the weighted mean total income of individuals aged 15 years and over who reported income for 2010. Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of individuals (e.g., males aged 45 to 54 years) by the number of individuals with income in that group.

Median and average incomes of individuals will be calculated for those individuals who are at least aged 15 years and who have an income (positive or negative).

Age - Refers to the age at last birthday before the reference date, that is, before May 10, 2011.

Footnote 60

Including loss.

Footnote 61

For population with income.

Footnote 62

For population with income.

Footnote 63

After-tax income - Refers to total income from all sources minus federal, provincial and territorial income taxes paid for 2010.

Median income of individuals - The median income of a specified group of income recipients is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e., the incomes of the first half of individuals are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Median income is calculated from the individuals with income in that group (e.g., males aged 45 to 54 years).

Average income of individuals - Average income of individuals refers to the weighted mean total income of individuals aged 15 years and over who reported income for 2010. Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of individuals (e.g., males aged 45 to 54 years) by the number of individuals with income in that group.

Median and average incomes of individuals will be calculated for those individuals who are at least aged 15 years and who have an income (positive or negative).

Age - Refers to the age at last birthday before the reference date, that is, before May 10, 2011.

Footnote 64

Including loss.

Footnote 65

For population with after-tax income.

Footnote 66

For population with after-tax income.

Footnote 67

Composition of income - The composition of the total income of a population group or a geographic area refers to the relative share of each income source or group of sources, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate total income of that group or area.

Total income - Total of income from all sources, including employment income, income from government programs, pension income, investment income and any other money income.

Age - Refers to the age at last birthday before the reference date, that is, before May 10, 2011.

Footnote 68

Market income - Refers to the sum of employment income (wages and salaries, net farm income and net income from non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice), investment income, retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities (including those from RRSPs and RRIFs) and other money income. It is equivalent to total income before tax minus all government transfers and is also referred to as income before transfers and taxes.

Footnote 69

Earnings or employment income - Total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.

Footnote 70

Wages and salaries - Refers to gross wages and salaries before deductions for such items as income tax, pensions and Employment Insurance. Included in this source are military pay and allowances, tips, commissions and cash bonuses, benefits from wage-loss replacement plans or income-maintenance insurance plans, supplementary unemployment benefits from an employer or union as well as all types of casual earnings during calendar year 2010. Other employment income such as taxable benefits, research grants and royalties are included.

Footnote 71

Self-employment net income - Refers to the total amount received by persons aged 15 years and over during calendar year 2010 as net farm income from self-employment, or net non-farm income from unincorporated business and/or professional practice.

Net farm income - Refers to net income (gross receipts from farm sales minus depreciation and cost of operation) received during calendar year 2010 from the operation of a farm, either on the respondent's own account or in partnership. In the case of partnerships, only the respondent's share of income was reported. Included with gross receipts are cash advances received in 2010, dividends from cooperatives, rebates and farm-support payments to farmers from federal, provincial and regional agricultural programs (for example, milk subsidies and marketing board payments) and gross insurance proceeds such as payments from the AgriInvest and AgriStability programs. The value of income 'in kind,' such as agricultural products produced and consumed on the farm, is excluded.

Net non-farm income from unincorporated business and/or professional practice - Refers to net income (gross receipts minus expenses of operation such as wages, rents and depreciation) received during calendar year 2010 from the respondent's non-farm unincorporated business or professional practice. In the case of partnerships, only the respondent's share was reported. Also included is net income from persons babysitting in their own homes, persons providing room and board to non-relatives, self-employed fishers, hunters and trappers, operators of direct distributorships such as those selling and delivering cosmetics, as well as freelance activities of artists, writers, music teachers, hairdressers, dressmakers, etc.

Footnote 72

Investment income - Refers to interest received during calendar year 2010 from deposits in banks, trust companies, cooperatives, credit unions, caisses populaires, etc., as well as interest on savings certificates, bonds and debentures, and all dividends from both Canadian and foreign corporate stocks and mutual funds. Also included is other investment income from either Canadian or foreign sources, such as net rents from real estate, mortgage and loan interest received, regular income from an estate or trust fund, and interest from insurance policies. Does not include capital gains or losses.

Footnote 73

Retirement pensions - Refers to all regular income received by the respondent during calendar year 2010 as the result of having been a member of a pension plan of one or more employers. It includes payments received from all annuities, including payments from a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), a matured Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) in the form of a life annuity, a fixed-term annuity, or an income-averaging annuity contract; pensions paid to widow(er)s or other relatives of deceased pensioners; pensions of retired civil servants, Armed Forces personnel and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers; annuity payments received from the Canadian Government Annuities Fund, an insurance company, etc. Does not include lump-sum death benefits, lump-sum benefits or withdrawals from a pension plan or RRSP, or refunds of over-contributions.

Footnote 74

Other money income - Refers to regular cash income received during calendar year 2010 and not reported in any of the other sources listed on the questionnaire. For example, severance pay and retirement allowances, alimony, child support, periodic support from other persons not in the household, income from abroad (excluding dividends and interest), non refundable scholarships, bursaries, fellowships and study grants, and artists' project grants are included.

Footnote 75

Government transfer payments - Refers to all cash benefits received from federal, provincial, territorial or municipal governments during 2010. This variable is derived by summing the amounts reported in:

- the Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor
- benefits from Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan
- benefits from Employment Insurance
- child benefits
- other income from government sources.

Footnote 76

Benefits from Canada or Quebec pension plan - Refers to benefits received during calendar year 2010 from the Canada or Quebec Pension Plan (For example, retirement pensions, survivors' benefits and disability pensions). Does not include lump-sum death benefits.

Footnote 77

Old Age Security pensions and Guaranteed Income Supplement - Refers to Old Age Security pensions and Guaranteed Income Supplements paid to persons aged 65 years and over, and to the Allowance or Allowance for the survivor paid to 60- to 64-year-old spouses of old age security recipients or widow(er)s by the federal government during the calendar year 2010.

Footnote 78

Benefits from employment insurance - Refers to total Employment Insurance benefits received during calendar year 2010, before income tax deductions. It includes benefits for unemployment, sickness, maternity, paternity, adoption, work sharing, retraining and benefits to self-employed fishers received under the federal Employment Insurance Program or the Quebec Parental Insurance Program.

Footnote 79

Child benefits - Refers to payments received under the Canada Child Tax Benefit program during calendar year 2010 by parents with dependent children under 18 years of age. Included with the Canada Child Tax Benefit is the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) for low-income families with children. The NCBS is the federal contribution to the National Child Benefit (NCB), a joint initiative of federal, provincial and territorial governments. Also included in this variable are child benefits, child disability benefits and earned income supplements provided by certain provinces and territories and the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB).

Footnote 80

Other income from government sources - Refers to all transfer payments, excluding those covered as a separate income source (Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan benefits, Old Age Security pensions and Guaranteed Income Supplements, Employment Insurance benefits and child benefits) received from federal, provincial, territorial or municipal programs during 2010.

Footnote 81

Income tax paid - Refers to all federal, provincial and territorial taxes paid on 2010 income. Federal, provincial and territorial taxes paid refer to taxes on income, after taking into account exemptions, deductions, non-refundable tax credits and the Quebec abatement. These taxes are obtained from the income tax files for persons who allowed access to their income tax data and from direct responses on the questionnaire for others.

Footnote 82

After-tax income - Refers to total income from all sources minus federal, provincial and territorial taxes paid for 2010.

Footnote 83

Net capital gains or losses -
Refers to the net gains received or losses incurred during calendar year 2010 from the sale of capital property. This represents the proceeds of disposition minus the adjusted cost base of the property and outlays and expenses incurred to sell the property. Capital property includes depreciable property and any property which, if sold, would result in a capital gain or loss (for example, cottages, buildings and securities such as mutual funds).

Non-taxable capital gains or losses on the sale of a principal residence are excluded.

Net capital gains or losses are not included in the definition of Total income as published in standard products.

Net capital gains or losses are not included in the concept of total income but are expressed here as a percentage to obtain a relative measure of size.

Footnote 84

Low income can be measured in several different ways in household surveys. For the standard products of the National Household Survey, the line chosen is a relative measure: the after-tax low-income measure (LIM-AT).

For this measure, the income used is after-tax income of households. There are no regional variations to account for prices or cost of living differences: all applicable households in Canada face the same line adjusted for household size. This line is set at half the median of adjusted household after-tax income. To account for potential economies of scale, the income of households with more than one member is divided by the square root of the size of the household.

All household members are considered to share the household income and are attributed the same income status.

Note: Low-income estimates in the 2011 National Household Survey

For the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), low-income statistics are presented based on the after-tax low-income measure (LIM-AT). This measure is not related to the low-income cut-offs (LICO) presented in the 2006 Census and prevalence rates are conceptually not comparable. Because of the sensitivity of certain income indicators to differences in methodology and response patterns, direct comparisons to establish trends with low-income estimates from other household surveys, administrative programs or the 2006 Census are discouraged. The prevalence rates observed in the NHS at the national level are generally 1 to 2 percentage points higher than seen for similar concepts in other programs. However, analysis of the NHS data suggests that it is valid to compare low-income data for different sub-populations within the NHS (i.e., for different geographic areas or demographic groups). For more information, refer to the Income Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-014-X2011006.

Footnote 85

The low-income concepts are not applied in the territories and in certain areas based on census subdivision type (such as Indian reserves). The existence of substantial in-kind transfers (such as band housing) and sizeable barter economies or consumption from own production (such as product from hunting or fishing) could have made the interpretation of low-income rates more difficult.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-010-X2011038.