Overqualification Among Aboriginal Workers in Canada

Abstract

This study examines education, employment, and the extent to which adult Aboriginal workers (aged 25-64) were overqualified for their jobs compared to non-Aboriginal workers. Data are from the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) including 415,115 Aboriginal workers and 13,301,610 non-Aboriginal workers. Aboriginal workers with higher levels of education (bachelor degree or higher) were less likely to be overqualified than their non-Aboriginal counterparts; but Aboriginal workers with lower levels of education (less than university level) were more likely to be overqualified than non-Aboriginal workers. This study also highlights differences in overqualification by field of study: Among Aboriginal workers who earned university degrees, low overqualification rates were found among those who studied education; mathematics, computer, and information sciences; architecture, engineering, and related technologies; and health fields.