Human Resources committee  It's a very complex topic. I wouldn't want to summarize that in a few words, but I'd be happy to give you a one- or two-page summary in writing, if that would be okay.

Human Resources committee  Yes. I have a couple of comments. I would say first of all that the trend in job vacancies is at least superficially consistent with Dr. Frenette's research, which shows a shift in employment towards, say, higher-education jobs. We have to remember though, that there are multiple factors acting on the labour market at any time—including technology, business cycle, interest rates and all sorts of factors—that could explain that drop in job vacancies and higher-education jobs.

Human Resources committee  If I may, I'll add a few thoughts and ideas. I might encourage the committee to think in terms of upstream and downstream types of data. If we think of the upstream as being the extent to which AI technology is being adopted in Canada, there are some significant challenges around that, as you've discussed.

Science and Research committee  Yes. For this particular topic, the data does not yet exist. We are using the funding through the disaggregated data action plan to enhance the way we collect the data and work with jurisdictions and institutions to collect the data. We're not yet in a position to analyze or write a report, per se.

Science and Research committee  We haven't necessarily looked in detail at your question specifically, but the data certainly supports an analysis of, for example, tenure—how long people have been in their position. We have information on age, for example. That's what allows us to know a larger number of professors aged 65 and older—a larger proportion by far—are men.

Science and Research committee  For younger groups and for assistant professors, in terms of the composition of faculty, it's true that we don't see as large a gender imbalance in terms of the proportion of academics by gender, ignoring for the moment the levels of pay. Yes, we do see for younger generations and lower “ranks” more gender balance than for full professors.

Science and Research committee  I think you would want to look at what we call cohort effects. When we look at those who are 65 and older now, they were probably hired 25 or more years ago. You'd probably want to look at the cohort effects. How did those people come to be in those positions?

Science and Research committee  As I've said before, we think of data as being a team sport. We are the national statistical agency. We have expertise in a great number of areas. Ultimately, our data collection efforts tend to involve co-operation with partner organizations and strong partnerships. The role of Statistics Canada is to consult, engage and build partnerships, so that, as I've said before, we're coalescing around a coordinated data strategy to get this information that we need.

Science and Research committee  Thank you for the question. The disaggregated data action plan has been used—and is still being used—to fund multiple initiatives across Statistics Canada, including, for example, the labour force survey and the Canadian community health survey. It is an envelope of funding that is being used to cover a wide portfolio of projects.

Science and Research committee  I can't speak to the actions the government might take in terms of policy interventions, but I can speak to data development or the enhancement of data. Yes, as we've tried to convey, there is certainly a role for Statistics Canada to play in terms of leading or coalescing around a coordinated data strategy on these questions.

Science and Research committee  When I say “hidden”, I mean that in the statistical sense. For example, I spoke about the difference in pay among full professors between men and women being 3.3%, but, for example, that 3.3% might be very different for racialized men versus racialized women or for persons with disabilities.

Science and Research committee  There is a certain potential to analyze these questions through the census. As you know, the census is done every five years. The benefit of the census is that it can support very detailed research, but you're getting a signal every five years so it's difficult to assess changes over time or changes in response to specific policy interventions.

Science and Research committee  Are you referring to the gender wage gap for the labour force as a whole?

Science and Research committee  We do have a series of research articles on that question. It changes over time, obviously. The best thing for us to do might be to answer that question in writing to make sure we give you an accurate answer.

Science and Research committee  I would be speculating, but I'm sure it's used by administrators. I'm sure it's used by unions and professional associations. It's used, certainly, by equity-seeking groups, and federal and provincial policy-makers. I'm sure it's used in various specific ways. In a general sense, it's used by a very wide range of stakeholders.