Differences in skills by highest level of education obtained

What follows is a fairly detailed comparison of the skills of anglophones and francophones for the four levels of education selected, as well as by age group (16 to 44 years and 45 to 65 years) and by grouping of educational levels (high school or less and postsecondary

education).

5.1.1 Skills of francophones outside Quebec

The results of the official-language minorities and those of the linguistic majority in their respective provinces in the PIAAC skills test, by highest level of education attained, are summarized in Figures 5.1 to 5.4.

Figure 5.1 shows that in New Brunswick, the average literacy scores of francophones are lower than those of anglophones for those without a high-school diploma (by 13 points) and for those with postsecondary education below the bachelor’s level (by 10 points). Analysis of the results by age group (see Figure 5.2) indicates that significant differences are observed for the oldest individuals (aged 45 to 65) in the two linguistic groups in New Brunswick, in both literacy and numeracy, with average score gaps between 17 and 20 points in favour of anglophones.

In terms of the PS-TRE skills-assessment results (Figure 5.3), francophones in Manitoba who have a bachelor’s degree or higher were less likely (4%) than anglophones (13%) to have not taken the PS-TRE assessment. In New Brunswick, the differences are found only among those with less than a high-school diploma, where francophones who have not been assessed on PS-TRE number almost twice as many as their anglophone peers (58% versus 29%). Francophones in this group are also three times less likely than anglophones (6%

versus 18%) to rank at skill Levels 2 or 3, and are nearly 17 percentage points less likely to be at skill Level 1 or below. The results by age group (see Figure 5.4) also indicate that the differences are mainly observed among the oldest (45 to 65 years) in New Brunswick.

In fact, 64 percent of francophones aged 45 to 65 with a high-school diploma or less did not take the PS-TRE

assessment, compared to 46 percent of anglophones in the same age group. Moreover, among francophones aged 45 to 65 with postsecondary education, nearly 18 percent rank at skill Levels 2 or 3, while for their anglophone peers, this proportion is nearly double.

5.1.2 Skills of anglophones in Quebec

As Figure 5.1 shows, anglophones with postsecondary education at the bachelor’s level or higher have

an average score in literacy slightly lower than francophones (by 8 points). The results by age group in Figure 5.2 do not show statistically significant differences.

With respect to PS-TRE skills, the results in Figure 5.3 show that anglophones with postsecondary education below the bachelor’s level are more likely (42%) to rank at Levels 2 or 3 than francophones (32%). By age group, Figure 5.4 shows that gaps are found among those aged 45 to 65 with postsecondary education. Indeed, fewer anglophones in this group rank at proficiency Level 1 or below (49% compared to 61% for francophones) and more rank at competency Level 2 or 3 (33% compared to 23% for their francophone peers). Anglophones aged 45 to 65 with a high-school diploma or less are less likely (34%) than francophones in the same group (46%) to have not taken the PS-TRE assessment.

Finally, anglophones aged 16 to 44 with postsecondary education did not complete the PS-TRE assessment in only 3 percent of cases, while this proportion is up to 7 percent for francophones.

Figure 5.1. Literacy and numeracy—Average scores of population aged 16 to 65, by language group and highest level of education, oversampled provinces, 2012

Anglophones Francophones

New BrunswickOntarioManitobaQuebec

200 220 240 260 280 300 320

Less than high school High-school diploma PSE lower than bachelor’s PSE bachelor’s or higher Less than high school High-school diploma PSE lower than bachelor’s PSE bachelor’s or higher Less than high school High-school diploma PSE lower than bachelor’s PSE bachelor’s or higher Less than high school High-school diploma PSE lower than bachelor’s PSE bachelor’s or higher

200 220 240 260 280 300 320

*

*

*

Literacy Numeracy

Source: PIAAC (2012).

* Represents a statistically significant difference at the 5% level.

PSE Postsecondary education.

Figure 5.2. Literacy and numeracy—Average scores of population aged 16 to 65, by language group, highest level of education and age group, oversampled provinces, 2012

Anglophones Francophones

New BrunswickOntarioManitobaQuebec

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

* Represents a statistically significant difference at the 5% level.

PSE Postsecondary education.

Figure 5.3. PS-TRE—Distribution of proficiency levels of population aged 16 to 65, by language group and highest level of education, oversampled provinces, 2012

10

PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school PSE bachelor’s or higher PSE lower than bachelor’s High-school diploma Less than high school

AnglophoneFrancophoneAnglophoneFrancophoneAnglophoneFrancophoneAnglophoneFrancophone

QuebecManitobaOntarioNew Brunswick

Level 1 or below

PS-TRE assessment nonrespondents Level 2 or 3

Source: PIAAC (2012).

* Represents a statistically significant difference at the 5% level.

PSE Postsecondary education.

Note: Estimates for Manitoba francophone nonrespondents and Level 2–3 respondents have been suppressed to meet confidentiality requirements.

Figure 5.4. PS-TRE—Distribution of proficiency levels of population aged 16 to 65, by language group, highest level of education, and age group, oversampled provinces, 2012

Level 1 or below

PS-TRE assessment nonrespondents Level 2 or 3

18

* Represents a statistically significant difference at the 5% level.

PSE Postsecondary education.

Note: Estimates for francophone respondents aged 45 to 65 years in New Brunswick with a high-school diploma or less, Level 1 or less, or Level 2 or 3, have been suppressed to meet confidentiality requirements.