Go to Main Content

Advertisement

By Special to MoneySense on October 29, 2014
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Minorities earn more working in the public sector

By Special to MoneySense on October 29, 2014
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Full-time wages in public sector jobs are 2.3% higher

Advertisement

Getty Images

OTTAWA – A new report says it pays to work in the public sector — especially if you’re a minority. The study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that overall, full-time wages in public sector jobs are 2.3 per cent higher than those in the private sector. But it also found that government workers who are female, Aboriginal, or belong to a visible minority group do much better from a relative wage standpoint than their counterparts at private companies. For example, it found that university-educated women in the public sector make 18 per cent less their male counterparts, but that gap widens to 27 per cent in the private sector. Meanwhile, university-educated Aboriginal workers earn 14 per cent less in the public sector than their non-Aboriginal peers, versus 44 per cent less if they were employed in the private sector. And university-educated visible minority workers are paid 12 per cent less in the public sector than their non-visible minority counterparts, but that widens to a 20 per cent gap in the private sector. The report, titled Narrowing the Gap: The Difference That Public Sector Wages Make, credited several factors for the lower wage discrepancies in the public sector, including pay equity legislation and the fact that government jobs are more likely to be unionized. Better access to benefits like paid parental leave, family leave and sick leave has also helped narrow wage discrimination in the public sector. “None of these elements are found exclusively in the public sector,” said the report’s authors, Kate McInturff and Paul Tulloch. “However, the public sector has a higher concentration of all three factors — with higher rates of unionization, family leave benefits and the legislated monitoring and regulation of pay equity,” they said. The 30-page report used data from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada for its findings.

Comments Cancel reply

Related Articles

People walking at a Canadian airport, as talk about passenger rights changes are a buzz.

Changes to flight passenger rights in Canada

New rules clarify when travellers are compensated for flight disruptions.

Changes to flight passenger rights in Canada

Why I’m optimistic about the markets in 2025–tariffs or no

This advisor isn’t losing any sleep over the markets. In fact, looking back at 2024 and forward into 2025,...

Why I’m optimistic about the markets in 2025–tariffs or no

Can Santander take on Canada’s Big Six? Why the global bank may face hurdles

A fresh international challenger has the potential to add competition to the country’s banking oligopoly, though experts warn it...

Can Santander take on Canada’s Big Six? Why the global bank may face hurdles

Canadian dollar coins are displayed, as we look at the inflation rate in Canada

Canada’s inflation rate down a tick to 1.9% in November

Canada’s inflation rate fell to 1.9% last month, down from 2% in October, as interest rate cuts for 2025...

Canada’s inflation rate down a tick to 1.9% in November

Donald Trump is given a jacket by trader Peter Giacchi at the New York Stock Exchange,

5 things to watch in Canadian business in 2025

Here’s what to keep an eye on as we head into the new year, from the housing market and...

5 things to watch in Canadian business in 2025

A Canada Post truck on a snowy street in front of an apartment building

Canada Post is still delivering some mail—find out what and when

Certain social benefits cheques will be delivered this week, even while Canada Post ramps up its services after the...

Canada Post is still delivering some mail—find out what and when

Photo of a holiday gift cut with scissors—symbolizing a December Bank of Canada rate cut.

Making sense of the Bank of Canada interest rate decision on December 11, 2024

Making sense of the Bank of Canada interest rate decision on December 11, 2024

A maintenance worker outside the Bank of Canada building on Wellington Street in Toronto

Bank of Canada lowers key interest rate by 0.5%

On Wednesday, the central bank announced a jumbo rate cut—its fifth cut in a row since June—and signalled a...

Bank of Canada lowers key interest rate by 0.5%

Canadians turn domestic for holiday travel

A weak loonie is discouraging U.S. trips, as extra flight capacity north of the border pushes domestic prices down....

Canadians turn domestic for holiday travel

Shoppers on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal on Black Friday

What’s included in Canada’s GST holiday—and how not to overspend

The temporary tax break will save Canadians money, but financial experts caution shoppers to do the math and avoid...

What’s included in Canada’s GST holiday—and how not to overspend