JOB SKILLS TRAINING AMONG INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: ITS CORRELATES, EFFECTS, AND UNMET NEEDS
Abstract
This study examined Indigenous workers’ participation in skills training, unmet needs for training, and their socio-demographic and labour market correlates. Specifically, it examines the prevalence, number, and types of skills training by Indigenous workers aged 15 years or older in the year prior to being interviewed in the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS). Participation rates in skills training were higher among Indigenous women than men; among workers with higher education, income, and skill levels; and among those with certain labour market conditions such as full-time positions, longer job tenure, white-collar occupations, employed (as opposed to self-employed) positions than other workers. Female Indigenous workers, especially those with post-secondary education, were more likely than their male counterparts to report unmet needs for skills training. Indigenous workers who reported job satisfaction, and positive overall and mental health were more likely than other workers to participate in skills training and less likely to report unmet needs of training.
Keywords: Indigenous, skills training, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, job satisfaction
References
Bailey, A. (2007). Connecting the Dots…Linking Training Investment to Business Outcomes and the Economy. The Canadian Council on Learning. http://en.copian.ca/library/research/ccl/connecting/connecting.pdf
Bleakney, A., Khanam, F., & Kumar, M. B. (2024). Quality of employment among First Nations people living off reserve and Métis, 2022 (Labour Statistics Research Papers Series, Catalogue No. 41-20-0002, No. 2024002). Statistics Canada.
Burton, J. (2010). WHO Healthy Workplace Framework and Model: Background and Supporting Literature and Practices. WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. https://www.who.int/occupational_health/healthy_workplace_framework.pdf
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, & Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University. (2022). Readiness and resilience: Mapping the contours of the Indigenous skills and employment ecosystem in Canada.
https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Readiness-and-Resilience_Mapping-the-Contours.pdf
Canadian Council on Learning. (2009). The State of Aboriginal Learning in Canada: A Holistic Approach to Measuring Success. https://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/education2/state_of_aboriginal_learning_in_canada-final_report,_ccl,_2009.pdf
Canadian Public Health Association. (1997). Health Impacts of Social and Economic Conditions: Implications for Public Policy. Canadian Public Health Association Board of Directors Discussion Paper. https://www.cpha.ca/sites/default/files/assets/policy/health_e.pdf
CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training). (2010). The skill matching challenge: Analysing skill mismatch and policy implications Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Coulombe, S., Tremblay, J.F., Marchand, S. (2004). “Literacy scores, human capital and growth across fourteen OECD countries,” Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development, Ottawa.
Desjardins, R. & Rubenson, K. (2011), “An analysis of skill mismatch using direct measures of skills”, OECD Education Working Papers, No. 63, OECD Publishing, Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5kg3nh9h52g5-en
Ellickson, M. C. (2002). “Determinants of job satisfaction of municipal government employees.” Public Personnel Management 31(3): 343-358.
Employment and Social Development Canada. (2024). Building a Modern 21st Century Workforce – Discussion Paper. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/training-agreements/workforce-summit/wf-discussion-paper.html
Environics Institute & Diversity Institute. (2023). Participation in skills training: A report from the Survey on Employment and Skills. https://www.environicsinstitute.org/projects/project-details/participation-in-skills-training
Hall, C. & Cotsman, S. (2015). Learning as a Lever for Performance: Learning and Development Outlook—13th Edition. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada.
Halliwell, C. (2013). No Shortage of Opportunity: Policy Ideas to Strengthen Canada’s Labour Market in the Coming Decade. IRPP Study No. 42, Nov 2013. http://www.irpp.org/assets/research/competitiveness/no-shortageof-opportunity/Halliwell-no42.pdf
Jones, M.K., Jones, R.J., Latreille, P.L. & Sloane, P.J. (2009). “Training, job satisfaction, and workplace performance in Britain: Evidence from WERS 2004.” LABOUR 23(Special Issue):139-175.
Knighton, T., Hujaleh, F., Iacampo, J. & Werkneh, G. (2009). Lifelong learning among Canadians aged 18 to 64 years: First results from the 2008 Access and Support to Education and Training Survey. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 81-595-M No. 079
McGrandle, J. (2019). “Job satisfaction in the Canadian public service: Mitigating toxicity with interests.” Public Personnel Management 48(3):369-391.
Miner, R. (2014). The Great Canadian Skills Mismatch: People Without Jobs, Jobs Without People and MORE. Miner Management Consultants.
Mahboubi, P., & Zhang, T. (2025). 2024 Labour Market Review: Challenges, Trends, and Policy Solutions for Canada (Commentary No. 678). C.D. Howe Institute.
Munro, D. (2014). “Developing skills: Where are Canada’s employers?” INSIGHTS February 2014 Newsletter. The Conference Board of Canada.
National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. (2017). Employment as a social determinant of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health. NCCAH.
Park, J. (2011). “Job-related training of immigrants.” Perspectives on Labour and Income Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-001-X August 30, 2011
Park, J. (2012). “Job-related training of older workers.” Perspectives on Labour and Income Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-001-X April 20, 2012
Park, J. (2022). “Job mismatches among Indigenous workers: Findings from PIAAC data.” Canadian Journal of Native Studies 41(1).
Schmidt, S. W. (2007). “The relationship between satisfaction with workplace training and overall job satisfaction.” Human Resource Development Quarterly 18(4):481-498.
Sharpe, A., Arsenault, J-F., Lapointe, & Cowan, F. (2009). The Effect of Increasing Aboriginal Educational Attainment on the Labour Force, Output and the Fiscal Balance. CSLS Research Report 2009-3. Center for the Study of Living Standards. http://www.csls.ca/reports/csls2009-3.pdf
Siebern-Thomas F. (2005) “Job Quality in European Labour Markets” in Bazen S.,Lucifora C. and Salverda W. (eds.) Job Quality and Employer Behaviour Basingstoke, Hants: Palgrave Macmillan: 31–36.
Statistics Canada. (2015). Aboriginal Statistics at a Glance: 2nd Edition. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-645-x/89-645-x2015001-eng.pdf
Statistics Canada. (2017a). Aboriginal People Survey, 2017. Data Dictionary Analytical File.
Statistics Canada. (2017b). Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-404-X2016001. Ottawa, Ontario. Data products, 2016 Census.
Statistics Canada. (2021). Table 41-10-0050-01. Skills training and labour force status by Aboriginal identity, age group and sex. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/4110005001-eng
Vongdara, B., Léger, D. & and Budinski, R. (2018). Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2017: User’s Guide to the Analytical File. Statistics Canada.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jungwee Park
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This license enables reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. CC BY-NC-ND includes the following elements:
BY: credit must be given to the creator.
NC: Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.
ND: No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.
