Significant changes for women
The number of women enrolling in post-secondary education has increased since 1990. The number of Indigenous Canadians with post-secondary education has increased, especially for Indigenous women.
Today, women in the Yukon are more likely than men to have a university degree. Yet, the distribution of genders across various fields of study remains uneven. This may contribute to some of the wage gap between genders.
Across Canada, most people who have an apprenticeship or enter trades school identify as men. Barriers to women and gender diverse people entering trades careers in the Yukon include:
- negative stereotypes about their abilities;
- lack of role models and mentors;
- little promotion of careers in trades; and
- safety concerns in male-dominated industries.
Organizations like Yukon Women in Trades and Technology (YWITT):
- increase awareness; and
- support women and gender diverse people in trades and technologies.
Diverse learners
Across Canada, there are gaps in education levels between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. There are many factors that contribute to this.
Financial constraints
Indigenous women earn on average more than Indigenous men. Yet, a wage gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians remains.
Family responsibilities
Many Indigenous graduates say family duties were the reason they did not complete their program on time.
Proximity to education
Challenges exist in rural and remote areas of the Yukon. Rural students have access to fewer courses and learning options than urban students.
A legacy of colonialism and the residential school system
This legacy impacts the wellbeing of Indigenous people through socioeconomic factors, such as:
- levels of education;
- income and unemployment;
- substance use;
- violence; and
- experiences of trauma.
Boys also tend to face more challenges in education than girls.
Education initiatives in the Yukon
Government of Yukon First Nations Initiatives Unit
- Works with First Nations to develop school programs, courses and cultural camps.
- Ensures school curriculums and programs in the Yukon reflect First Nations' perspective.
Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED)
- Launched in 2020 and steered by the Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE).
- Advances First Nation decision-making control over education.
- Advocates for First Nation student success.
- Helped create the Yukon First Nations School Board (FNSB). FNSB will allow First Nations to better manage school programs in their communities.
The Department of Education’s safe and caring schools policy
- Supports a safe, active, healthy and caring learning environment for all students in the Yukon.
- Ensures everyone is treated with respect, regardless of:
- race;
- ancestry;
- place of origin;
- colour;
- ethnic origin;
- citizenship;
- religion;
- gender;
- sexual orientation;
- age; or
- disability.
- Outlines roles and responsibilities for students, parents, teachers and other school staff.
What are the indicators?
The following indicators tell us about gender, indigeneity, education and field of study in the Yukon.
Highest level of education achieved, by gender
51.3%
In 2016:
- women accounted for more than half (51.3%) of Yukoners with a post-secondary qualification.
- 58% of those possessing a University certificate\diploma\degree at bachelor's level or above were women, compared to 48% in 1991.
Source:
Statistics Canada. 1991 and 2016 Census.
Notes on data:
- The Census of Population is conducted by Statistics Canada every 5 years to collect demographic and social information on all people living in Canada.
- Data from different cycles of the census must be compared with caution.
Highest level of education achieved, by Indigenous identity
31.1%
In 2016, 31.1% of the Indigenous population had no diploma, certificate, or degree. However, the proportion of Yukon's Indigenous population who have a high school diploma or certificate is similar than Yukon's non-indigenous indentity population.
Source:
Statistics Canada. 1996, 2001, 2006 Census and 2011 National Household Survey.
Notes on data:
- Indigenous identity refers to whether the person reported being an Indigenous person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or being a Registered or Treaty Indian and/or being a member of a First Nation or Indian band.
- Indigenous peoples of Canada are defined as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
- The Census of Population is conducted by Statistics Canada every 5 years to collect demographic and social information on all people living in Canada.
- Data from different cycles of the census must be compared with caution. Visit the Statistics Canada website for information on census cycles.
Highest level of education achieved in Indigenous population by gender
7%
In 2016, 28% of indigenous women had no certificate, diploma or degree. This is a decrease of 7% compared to the 35% of indigenous women with no certificate, diploma or degree in 2001.
Source:
Statistics Canada. 1996, 2001, 2006 Census and 2011 National Household Survey.
Notes on data:
- Indigenous identity refers to whether the person reported being an Indigenous person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or being a Registered or Treaty Indian and/or being a member of a First Nation or Indian band.
- Indigenous peoples of Canada are defined as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
- The Census of Population is conducted by Statistics Canada every 5 years to collect demographic and social information on all people living in Canada.
- Data from different cycles of the census must be compared with caution. Visit the Statistics Canada website for information on census cycles.
Enrollment in the trades at Yukon University, by gender
24%
Over the past 5 years:
- The welding program, at 24%, had the highest proportion of women in the Yukon University trades programs.
- Women made up only 6% of those registered in the millwright and pipe trades (plumbing, gas fitting and pipe fitting).
Source:
Yukon University Registrar, 2020.
Note:
Admissions exclude registrants that had an unidentified gender.
Enrollment in early learning and child care program at Yukon University, by gender
92%
In the 2018–2019 school year, women made up 92% of students enrolled in the Early Learning and Child Care program at Yukon University.
Source:
Yukon University Registrar, 2020.
Note:
Admissions exclude registrants that had an unidentified gender.
Students feeling that teachers care, by gender and geographical location
57.4%
- Percent of youth that agreed or strongly agreed that their teachers care about them as persons (2018)
- 57.4% of grade 9-10 rural girls
- 58.6% of grade 9-10 urban girls
- 70.6% of grade 6 to 8 rural girls
- 76.2% of grade 6 to 8 urban girls
- 63.3% of grade 9-10 rural boys and
- 71.4% of grade 9-10 urban boys.
Source:
- Lambe, Laura., Mciver, Theresa., kim, Samuel., Mayne, Kyla., Craig, Wendy., King, Matthew. 2019. Health and health-related behaviours among young people in Yukon. Whitehorse, YT: Government of Yukon.
- Freeman, John G., King, Matthew., Gropp, Kathleen., Vita-Marie, Ross. 2015. Health and health-related behaviours among young people in Yukon. Whitehorse, YT: Government of Yukon.
Notes on data:
- As these data represent the responses of surveyed students only and as the number of respondents, particularly in rural Yukon, was quite low, these data may not represent the full cohort of Yukon youth in those grades and may be subject to some fluctuation when comparing one year of results to another.
- Data from the survey may point to a characteristic or challenge among a specific group of respondents, but may not be generalizable to the entire youth population of the relevant age range, gender or region.
- The HBSC survey:
- is conducted in the classroom, during school hours;
- began in 1982;
- is a cross-national survey conducted in Canada and a number of other countries every 4 years in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO); and
- collects information on the attitudes and health behaviours of young people and how these may differ based on contextual factors;
The Yukon survey is conducted by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics on behalf of SPEG/Queen’s University and the departments of Health and Social Services and Education.
The Government of Yukon has been included in the national HBSC survey since 2010.