The Contribution of Métis to Future Labour Force Growth in Canada

Abstract

This report contributes to the debate on the role of Aboriginal people in the Canadian long-term economic growth by projecting the contribution of Métis people to future labour force growth in Canada as a whole and across regions under various projection scenarios. 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.

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