Does Bilingualism Mean Greater Employability?

Executive Director

April 2008

A recent survey commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies reveals that a majority of Canadians believe that: “ learning a language helps you get a better job”. Nine in ten francophones agree with that statement as do approximately eight in ten anglophones (79%) and allophones (83%). But while it might help you get a better job, in most parts of Canada, the lack of ability to speak both official languages does not appear to be a major obstacle to securing employment. This is important because securing employment is considered an essential element of integration and in particular is regarded as the most characteristic when it comes to immigrant adaptation to the society. In that which follows we will examine the degree to which language knowledge plays a role in unemployment rates. In the second part of the study we look at the gaps between immigrants and non-immigrants in terms of unemployment across the country. It is important to bear in mind that the findings below are focused on issues of unemployment rather than what might be described as “opportunity” or “mobility” which pertains to the type of employment and the level of remuneration. These matters will be the object of a forthcoming report as the data is made available.

Overall the 2006 census reveals that Canadians between the age of 35 and 44 with a university degree that know both English and French have virtually no edge in terms of unemployment in the country over those that report knowledge of English and French and a some advantage over those reporting knowledge of French only. Of course given the concentration of anglophones and francophones in certain parts of the county it is widely assumed that in those areas where the two language groups are in closer contact that knowledge of both official languages will be essential to employment. That is likely true in some professions, but clearly does not apply across the board even where there is proximity between members of the two language groups. Looking at most provinces and major cities across Canada when controlling for education and age (looking at persons with university degrees between the ages of 35 and 44) for the most part those reporting knowledge of English and French have lower rates of unemployment than counterparts reporting only English or only French. Moreover, according to the 2006 census unilingual English Montrealers and Quebec City residents (between the ages of 35 and 44 with university degrees) had the highest rates of unemployment of any group speaking English only in any major city in Canada. In Toronto those reporting knowledge of French only also have not fared particularly well in terms of their rate of employment

However there is a major caveat in support of the thesis that knowledge of English and French makes for more employability. As observed below that notion appears to be true for allophones (which include an important share of immigrants and visible minorities) but not so much for anglophones and francophones in most parts of the country (with a minority of immigrants and visible minorities).

Upon closer examination of the 2006 census data by correlating mother tongue with language knowledge (controlling for education and age) the unemployment gaps between francophones and anglophones are relatively unimportant and very surprisingly on a national scale unilingual anglophones and francophones have unemployment rates that are quite similar to those reporting knowledge of English and French. It is amongst allophones that the gaps are substantial and that is especially true for those who report knowledge of French only.  

Table 2

Mother tongue, Knowledge of official languages with University certificate, diploma or degree Unemployment rate 35 to 44 years
Canada	Total - Mother tongue	English	French	Non-official language
Knowledge of official languages	4.1	2.8	2.6	6.7
English only	4.0	2.7	-	6.0
French only	5.0	-	2.5	22.5
English and French	3.9	3.4	2.6	7.6
Neither English nor French	13.5	0.0	0.0	13.7

 Source: Statistics Canada, census of Canada, 2006

In Quebec there is a 6 point gap in the rate of unemployment between those Quebec anglophones reporting knowledge of English only and allophones with similar language knowledge and the same gap for anglophone and allophone bilinguals. The gap between francophones with knowledge of French only and those allophones that know French only is around 20 –points and between francophones reporting knowledge of both English and French and allophones with knowledge of both official languages the gap is reduced to 7.5 points. Undoubtedly the differences are attributable to immigrant status, time of arrival and visible minority identification. However since we have controlled for education and age the gaps remain disconcerting and suggest strongly that contrary to popular assumptions language knowledge may not be the principal obstacle in securing employment and hence in ensuring “successful” integration.

Table 3

Québec University certificate, diploma or degree Unemployment rate 35 to 44 years
	Total - Mother tongue	English	French	Non-official language
Total - Knowledge of official languages	4.9	4.9	2.6	12.0
English only	9.0	4.5	-	10.6
French only	5.0	0.0	2.6	23.0
English and French	4.5	4.9	2.6	10.2
Neither English nor French	23.1	-	-	23.1

 

Source: Statistics Canada, census of Canada, 2006

As regards the rate of unemployment in 2006 in Montreal when controlling for age and level of education one observes the very substantial gap between unilingual francophones and allophones that are able to speak only French rising above 20 points while the gap between the francophones that are bilingual and the allophones that are bilingual is 7.4 points. As observed below the gap between the anglophones that report English only knowledge and those allophones with knowledge of English only is just over 6 points. Francophones that are bilingual have an edge over anglophones with the same language background.
Table 4

Montréal University certificate, diploma or degree Unemployment rate 35 to 44 years
	Total - Mother tongue	Anglophone	Francophone	Allophone
Total - Knowledge of official languages	6,0	5,1	2,9	12,1
English only	9,3	4,3	-	10,7
French only	7,8	-	3,1	24,7
English and French	5,3	5,2	2,8	10,2

Source: Statistics Canada, census of Canada, 2006
 In Quebec City the bigger gap is between anglophones that speak French and allophones that speak English only though there is an important gap between francophones and allophones bilingual and unilingual alike.

Table 5

Québec City University certificate, diploma or degree Unemployment rate 35 to 44 years
	Total - Mother tongue	English	French	Non-official language
Total - Knowledge of official languages	2.9	2.7	2.3	13.5
English only	18.2	-	-	20.0
French only	2.2	0.0	1.7	13.1
English and French	3.3	3.6	2.6	13.6
Neither English nor French	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

 Source: Statistics Canada, census of Canada, 2006

 In other parts of Quebec the gaps are equally disconcerting in for example in Sherbrooke where the gap is nearly 30 points between the unilingual francophone and allophones that speak French only.

It is interesting to observe that the gaps are much narrower in the Gatineau region where allophones speaking French only are 6 points behind unilingual francophones.

Table 7

Ottawa - Gatineau (Que. part - Partie Qc) University certificate, diploma or degree Unemployment rate 35 to 44 years
	Total - Mother tongue	English	French	Non-official language
Total - Knowledge of official languages	2.1	3.2	1.2	6.7
English only	5.6	4.8	-	6.6
French only	3.5	-	2.5	8.7
English and French	1.7	2.3	0.9	6.6
Neither English nor French	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Source: Statistics Canada, census of Canada, 2006

In Ottawa, Ontario the gaps are also relatively narrow but it is worth noting that anglophones that speak French have similar rates of unemployment as those who do not speak the language. Also the lowest rate of unemployment is amongst francophones who speak both English and French.

Table 8

Ottawa - Gatineau (Ont. part - Partie Ont.) University certificate, diploma or degree Unemployment rate 35 to 44 years
	Total - Mother tongue	English	French	Non-official language
Total - Knowledge of official languages	3.6	2.9	1.5	5.8
English only	4.1	2.9	-	6.0
French only	7.8	-	3.6	-
English and French	2.9	2.9	1.5	4.9