--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/the-contribution-of-metis-to-future-labour-force-growth-in-canada/" title: "The Contribution of Métis to Future Labour Force Growth in Canada" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T11:34:27+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T11:34:27+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Aboriginal people" - "Canada" - "ethnic mobility" - "Indigenous" - "labour force growth" - "Métis" - "Northern region" - "Prairie provinces" - "projections" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Indigenous Economic Development" - "Labour Markets" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # The Contribution of Métis to Future Labour Force Growth in Canada Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/the-contribution-of-metis-to-future-labour-force-growth-in-canada/ # The Contribution of Métis to Future Labour Force Growth in Canada [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2017-08-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Kim, Myeongwan, and Andrew Sharpe. 2017. “The Contribution of Métis to Future Labour Force Growth in Canada.” CSLS Research Report 2017-08. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/the-contribution-of-metis-to-future-labour-force-growth-in-canada/ ## Authors: - Myeongwan Kim Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2017-08 December 2017 39 pages ## Related research [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? 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Based on our projections for the Métis labour force over the period 2011-2036, we find that the contribution of Métis to the total Canadian labour force is significant given their 1.2 per cent share in the total working age population in Canada. In our baseline scenario, the Métis people is projected to account for 6.4 per cent of total labour force growth. The Métis contribution is especially large in the regions with which the Métis has historical ties: namely the Prairie provinces and the Northern region. The contribution in these jurisdictions ranges from 11.8 per cent to 17.0 per cent. We find that the role of ethnic mobility is especially important for the Métis population growth. If we assume no ethnic mobility, the Métis contribution is projected to be 1.9 per cent of the total labour force growth in Canada. Nevertheless, this is still greater than the Métis share in the Canadian working age population in 2011. Ce rapport contribue au débat sur le rôle des peuples autochtones dans la croissance économique à long terme du Canada en projetant la contribution des Métis à la croissance future de la main-d’œuvre au Canada, à l’échelle nationale et régionale, selon divers scénarios de projection. À partir de nos projections de la main-d’œuvre métisse pour la période 2011-2036, nous constatons que la contribution des Métis à la main-d’œuvre totale canadienne est importante compte tenu de leur part de 1,2 % dans la population canadienne en âge de travailler. Selon notre scénario de référence, les Métis devraient représenter 6,4 % de la croissance totale de la main-d’œuvre. La contribution des Métis est particulièrement importante dans les régions avec lesquelles ils entretiennent des liens historiques, soit les provinces des Prairies et la région du Nord. Dans ces administrations, la contribution varie de 11,8 % à 17,0 %. Nous constatons que la mobilité ethnique joue un rôle particulièrement important dans la croissance de la population métisse. En l’absence de mobilité ethnique, la contribution des Métis devrait s’établir à 1,9 % de la croissance totale de la main-d’œuvre au Canada. Cette proportion demeure néanmoins supérieure à la part des Métis dans la population canadienne en âge de travailler en 2011. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2017-08-1.pdf)