--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/an-assessment-of-first-nations-economic-and-social-performance-in-new-brunswick/" title: "An Assessment of First Nations Economic and Social Performance in New Brunswick" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-01T12:47:31+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-01T12:47:31+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "census" - "economic performance" - "education" - "First Nations" - "labour market" - "New Brunswick" - "reserves" - "social indicators" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "NB" research_theme: - "Indigenous Economic Development" - "Regional Economic Development" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # An Assessment of First Nations Economic and Social Performance in New Brunswick Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/an-assessment-of-first-nations-economic-and-social-performance-in-new-brunswick/ # An Assessment of First Nations Economic and Social Performance in New Brunswick [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2023-02-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Morimanno, Pascal. 2023. “An Assessment of First Nations Economic and Social Performance in New Brunswick.” CSLS Research Report 2023-02. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/an-assessment-of-first-nations-economic-and-social-performance-in-new-brunswick/ ## Author: - Pascal Morimanno Atlantic Institute for Policy Research, University of New Brunswick ## Report 2023-02 March 2023 66 pages ## Related research [Closing the First Nations Education Gap in Canada: Assessing Progress and Estimating the Economic Benefits — An Update Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2023 | Report 2023-01 | 101 pages](https://csls.ca/research/closing-the-first-nations-education-gap-in-canada-assessing-progress-and-estimating-the-economic-benefits-an-update-2023-01/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? 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The variables used include demographics, income and income composition, labour market outcomes, and educational attainment. Comparisons are made between First Nations and nonIndigenous people at the provincial and national levels, as well as between reserves in New Brunswick. Particular attention was given to the four largest reserves in New Brunswick (Elsipogtog, Esgenoopetitj, St. Mary’s and Tobique). There have been large relative improvements for First Nations people in New Brunswick from 2016 to 2021 compared to the non-Indigenous population trends over the same period. However, First Nations people still perform below the non-Indigenous averages. First Nations individuals off reserve have faired better than First Nations individuals on reserve. Finally, the report presents policy recommendations to increase First Nations economic and social performance in New Brunswick. Ce rapport présente une analyse d’une série d’indicateurs économiques et sociaux pour la population des Premières Nations au Nouveau-Brunswick, à l’aide des données des recensements de la population de 2016 et de 2021. Les variables utilisées comprennent la démographie, le revenu et sa composition, les résultats du marché du travail et le niveau de scolarité. Des comparaisons sont établies entre les Premières Nations et la population non autochtone aux échelles provinciale et nationale, ainsi qu’entre les réserves du Nouveau-Brunswick. Une attention particulière a été accordée aux quatre plus grandes réserves du Nouveau-Brunswick (Elsipogtog, Esgenoopetitj, St. Mary’s et Tobique). Des améliorations relatives importantes ont été observées chez les Premières Nations du Nouveau-Brunswick entre 2016 et 2021, comparativement aux tendances de la population non autochtone durant la même période. Cependant, les Premières Nations affichent toujours des résultats inférieurs aux moyennes non autochtones. Les membres des Premières Nations hors réserve s’en sont mieux tirés que ceux vivant en réserve. Enfin, le rapport présente des recommandations politiques visant à améliorer la performance économique et sociale des Premières Nations au Nouveau-Brunswick. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2023-02-1.pdf)