Evidence of meeting #33 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was trades.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chief, Analysis and Special Projects, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
I must remind you that we have seen an increase in the number of women in occupations other than the trades: the professions and management.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Are those salaries more or less equal, or is there still a difference?
Chief, Analysis and Special Projects, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
I will get you the data later.
Chief, Analysis and Special Projects, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
Yes, I will.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
If you could provide that information to the clerk, we will disseminate it.
Chief, Analysis and Special Projects, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
Yes.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
We can see from your presentation that we've made some great strides, but there's still some work that needs to be done. I think it's important to recognize that we want to remove barriers and create opportunities, but that we can't ever expect to have 50-50, because there are going to be choices.
I'm curious about two things. One you probably can't answer, but I'm just going to throw it out there. We have a recession right now and we're talking about very short-term issues. But if we look at the demographic and the long-term labour market, there are going to be opportunities everywhere for everyone by virtue of the silver tsunami. Is there any thinking being done about what might happen 15 years down the road, when we're actually going to be desperate for all these positions, whether apprenticeship, medical, or whatever?
Director General, Workplace Partnerships Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Yes, there is. About 20 years ago you had not enough jobs for too many people. Before the recession, we were dealing with not enough people to fill too many jobs. Then the recession came, and there's been an impact on that thinking. A lot of people are now thinking that after the recession, and even through the recession, a number of job shortages will persist. There are still areas of the economy and around Canada where people are looking for the skilled labour force to fill the jobs.
Some think that towards the end of the recession we're going to go back to a time when there were a lot of good jobs out there, but without enough people. This will depend, to some extent, on how fast our recovery takes place and how quickly we can fill those skill shortages.There have been a fair number of studies done on areas where we think this might happen. A lot of industries and educational institutions are starting to focus on it. We will play a facilitating role in this.
Did you want to add anything?
Director, Labour Market Policy Research, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I would add that there are certain groups within the population that have a lower participation rate than the rest of the population. For example, we see this in persons with disabilities and aboriginal women. Some groups have older workers whose participation rate is lower. I think there have been a lot of studies of specific subgroups of the population, with a view to finding what might be done to encourage greater labour market participation among them.
Bloc
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you.
Since you want to say a few words, I will give you my 30 seconds.
Chief, Analysis and Special Projects, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
Thank you.
As to what will happen in the future, I would like to mention the Canadian Occupational Projection System or COPS—I do not know what it is called in French—which falls under Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. That department uses various data we provide to project what will happen in the future in various occupations. I could send you more information on their recent document.
Assistant Director, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
In addition, many of the provinces conduct their own provincial occupation projection systems.
Bloc
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you very much.
Mr. Parisien, I quite like statistics, particularly when they deal with non-traditional occupations. I have changed a car engine before and I can say that having oily fingernails is not very nice when you are going out.
You are conducting studies on non-traditional occupations, ones that are not attracting women. Is that because of health risk leave during pregnancy? Say, for example, a young woman is working in trucking, and since that falls under federal jurisdiction, she is not entitled to health risk leave. Yet her baby's life is at stake. Is the inflexibility of a traditional occupation for young women considered in your statistics?
Director, Sector Council Program, Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada
You have changed an engine?
Bloc
Director, Sector Council Program, Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Congratulations, I am impressed.
Sectoral studies done by the sector councils belong to them; the statistics are theirs. Our tasks are to fund them and to encourage women to enter various occupations. Our role is one of influence.
We can ask a sector council to look at something in particular. In construction or trucking, good studies are under way, including some that will soon be published. It might be a good idea to check whether various provincial or federal policies are having an impact.
We know that in construction, there are things that a pregnant woman cannot do.
Bloc
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
I understand that. That is exactly why I want to know whether there are statistics on it. You are promoting non-traditional occupations, but we need to also respect the fact that women have babies. That is why we need to ensure balance.
In big companies such as Bell or Hydro, and even within government, men still dominate what is called the “key occupations”. Men are the big deal 99% of the time.
According to your statistics, women say that they have no access to certain occupations, that they are for men only. I could give you some examples from government. The person in charge of finance is a man, as is the one responsible for international affairs. Traditionally, these occupations are not opened up to women.
Do you have any statistics on dissatisfaction because various key positions in companies are not accessible to women?
Director, Sector Council Program, Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada
No, not through the Sectoral Council Program.
Director General, Workplace Partnerships Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada
I don't know if StatsCan does anything with women's participation and this sort of thing. But in the federal government, in the public service, I know there are stats. There's been almost remarkable progress. The gap still exists, especially in the senior management positions. In the corporate world, I'm not sure. I know the public service keeps those stats pretty carefully.
Bloc
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
I have never worked for government, but I did work for a telecommunications company. You are saying that over the past 10 years, women have managed to take their places without having to be better or stronger in order to reach the same level.