Posted on March 15 2019

83% of Canadian women participated in the labour market in 2018

By
Anshul Singhal
, Editor

Updated July 25 2023

83% of Canadian women between the ages of 25 and 54 participated in the labour market in 2018. These women were either working or looking for work as per Statistics Canada. Data for the same was released by Statistics Canada to mark the International Women’s Day which is celebrated on 8^th March.

Women’s participation in 2018 is in stark contrast to 1950 when only 21% of Canadian women participated in the labour market. This number had increased to 75.9% by 1991.

There were several economic and demographic factors that coincided with the increased participation of women. Women, nowadays, have greater participation in higher education. Women today also tend to get married later than a woman earlier which further delays the childbearing stage. Also, divorces and separation have also increased making it necessary for women to work to support themselves.

At the provincial level, Newfoundland and Labrador saw the fastest growth in women participation. Between 2008 and 2018, the number rose by 5% to reach 81.6% in 2018.

Quebec came in second with the growth rate increasing by 3.9% to reach 86.7% in 2018.

Immigrant women who are between the ages of 25 and 54 had a participation rate of 77.7% in 2018. There was an increase of 2.3% between 2008 and 2018, as per CIC News.

The rate of women participation puts Canada ahead of the USA. The USA has a women participation rate of 75%. However, Sweden and Iceland are ahead of Canada with a participation rate of 88.7%.