Tabulation: Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree (15), Age Groups (8B), Major Field of Study - Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2011 (14), Labour Force Status (8), Location of Study Compared with Province or Territory of Residence (6), Attendance at School (3) and Sex (3) for the Population Aged 15 Years and Over, in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Divisions, 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
• Location of study compared with province or territory of residence (6): Total - Location of study compared with province or territory of residence
• Attendance at school (3): Total - Attendance at school
• Age groups (8B): Total - Age groups
• Sex (3): Total - Sex

This table details highest certificate, diploma or degree , age groups , major field of study - classification of instructional programs 2011 , labour force status , location of study compared with province or territory of residence , attendance at school and sex for the population aged 15 years and over, in private households in Alberta^{Footnote 4}
Global non-response rate (GNR)^{Footnote 5} = 27.4 %

Highest certificate, diploma or degree (15)	Labour force status (8)
	Total - Labour force status^Footnote 6	In the labour force	Employed	Unemployed	Not in the labour force	Participation rate	Employment rate	Unemployment rate
Total - Highest certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 7	2,888,735	2,115,640	1,993,225	122,415	773,095	73.2	69.0	5.8
No certificate, diploma or degree	550,465	277,930	250,020	27,910	272,530	50.5	45.4	10.0
High school diploma or equivalent^Footnote 8	764,390	567,040	527,630	39,405	197,350	74.2	69.0	6.9
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree^Footnote 9	1,573,885	1,270,670	1,215,570	55,100	303,210	80.7	77.2	4.3
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma^Footnote 10	318,280	252,235	239,575	12,665	66,045	79.2	75.3	5.0
Trades certificate or diploma (other than apprenticeship)^Footnote 11	124,595	92,740	87,310	5,430	31,850	74.4	70.1	5.9
Registered Apprenticeship certificate^Footnote 12	193,690	159,495	152,265	7,230	34,195	82.3	78.6	4.5
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	530,100	424,905	406,150	18,755	105,195	80.2	76.6	4.4
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level^Footnote 13	122,465	94,540	89,935	4,605	27,925	77.2	73.4	4.9
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above	603,035	498,990	479,910	19,085	104,045	82.7	79.6	3.8
Bachelor's degree	418,180	348,585	335,205	13,375	69,595	83.4	80.2	3.8
University certificate or diploma above bachelor level	45,355	36,120	34,555	1,560	9,235	79.6	76.2	4.3
Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry	15,815	13,490	13,255	240	2,325	85.3	83.8	1.8
Master's degree	102,315	83,425	80,075	3,350	18,890	81.5	78.3	4.0
Earned doctorate^Footnote 14	21,375	17,370	16,810	560	4,005	81.3	78.6	3.2

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

'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 3

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 4

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

Footnote 5

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 6

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

Footnote 7

'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 8

'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 9

'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 10

'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 11

'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 12

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

Footnote 13

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 14

'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-X2011047.