Postsecondary attainment

Proportion of the population who have attained a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.

This indicator is measured in a number of Statistics Canada surveys, including the Census of Population and the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

In the Census of Population, survey respondents are asked:

Has this person completed a Registered Apprenticeship or other trades certificate or diploma?

• Yes, Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification (Journeyperson's designation)
• Yes, other trades certificate or diploma
• No

Has this person completed a college, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma?

• Yes, certificate or diploma from a program of less than 3 months
• Yes, certificate or diploma from a program of 3 months to less than 1 year
• Yes, certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years
• Yes, certificate or diploma from a program of more than 2 years
• No

Has this person completed a university certificate, diploma or degree?

• Yes, university certificate or diploma below bachelor level
• Yes, bachelor's degree (e.g., B.A., B.A.(Hons.), B.Sc., B.Ed., LL.B.)
• Yes, university certificate or diploma above bachelor level
• Yes, degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry (M.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., O.D.)
• Yes, master's degree (e.g., M.A., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.B.A.)
• Yes, earned doctorate (e.g., Ph.D.)
• No

In the LFS, survey respondents are asked:

What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree you have obtained?

• Has not obtained a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree
• Trade certificate or diploma from a vocational school or apprenticeship training
• Certificate or diploma from a community college, CEGEP, school of nursing, etc.
• University certificate below a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• University certificate, diploma or degree above a bachelor's degree

This indicator is measured through multiple Statistics Canada surveys. Estimates can vary between data sources due to differences in reference periods, targeted or sampled populations, data collection and other methodology.

• Census of Population
  • Table 98-10-0384-01 – Highest level of education by census year: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations
  • Table 98-10-0386-01 – Highest level of education by geography: Canada, provinces and territories
  • Table 98-10-0414-01 – Highest level of education by major field of study and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
  • Table 98-10-0429-01 – Highest level of education by census year, visible minority and generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations
  • Table 98-10-0430-01 – Highest level of education by major field of study, visible minority and immigrant status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
• Labour Force Survey (LFS)
  • Table 37-10-0130-01 – Educational attainment of the population aged 25 to 64, by age group and sex, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada, provinces and territories
  • Table 37-10-0117-01 – Educational attainment in the population aged 25 to 64, off-reserve Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal and total population

• Portrait of Youth in Canada: Data Visualization Tool (Statistics Canada – Data Visualization Products)
• Portrait of youth in Canada: Education (Statistics Canada – Infographics, October 4, 2021)

• Education Indicators in Canada: Fact Sheets (new fact sheets are released continuously)
• A portrait of educational attainment and occupational outcomes among racialized populations in 2021 (Analytical products, 2021 Census, January 18, 2023)
• Canada leads the G7 for the most educated workforce, thanks to immigrants, young adults and a strong college sector, but is experiencing significant losses in apprenticeship certificate holders in key trades (The Daily, November 30, 2022)
• Educational attainment of women by the relative remoteness of their communities (The Daily, February 8, 2022)
• Educational participation and attainment of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Canada (Just the Facts, February 1, 2022)
• Youth and education in Canada (Portrait of Youth in Canada: Data Report, October 4, 2021)
• Gender-related differences in desired level of educational attainment among students in Canada (Economic and Social Reports, September 22, 2021)

• The following data visualization tool shows the number of people entering and graduating from postsecondary education by academic year:
  • Postsecondary program enrolments and graduates: Interactive tool (Statistics Canada – Data Visualization Products)