Latest 2021 census figures released indicate levels of education for City of Powell River residents.
In terms of education attained by residents in 2021, 16.2 per cent have no certificate, diploma or degree and 30.7 per cent have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. A total of 53.1 per cent have a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. This includes 20.4 per cent with a college or other non-university certificate or diploma and 15.7 per cent with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Master’s degree holders represent 3.4 per cent of the population and those with a doctorate are 0.8 per cent of the population. Those with a degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry are 0.6 per cent of the population.
Apprenticeship or trades certification or diploma represent 13.2 per cent of the population.
With regard to the comparison between genders, Statistics Canada’s gender category is inclusive of men, women and non-binary people. According to Statistics Canada, given that the non-binary population is small, data aggregation to a two-category gender variable is sometimes necessary to protect the confidentiality of responses provided. In these cases, individuals in the non-binary persons category are distributed into the other two gender categories.
For the men category in 2021, 18.1 per cent of city residents have no certificate, degree or diploma. A total of 29 per cent have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. The statistics indicate 53 per cent of men have a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. This includes 20.4 per cent with apprenticeship or trades certification.
For university-educated men, 13.8 per cent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, 3.2 per cent have a master’s degree and 0.7 per cent have a doctorate.
Women in Powell River on average are more educated than the men. Those with no certificate, diploma or degree amount to 14.4 per cent. A total of 32.4 per cent have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. In the post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree category, 53.2 per cent have these qualifications. This includes 6.6 per cent with apprenticeship or trades certification.
A total of 17.5 per cent of local women have a bachelor’s degree or higher, 3.6 per cent have a master’s degree and 0.8 per cent have a doctorate.
In comparing the 2021 census figures for education to 2016, there has been an improvement in levels of education. While the figure in 2021 for no certificate, diploma or degree was 16.2 per cent, in 2016, the number was 19 per cent.
High school diploma figures were slightly higher, listed as 30.7 per cent in 2021 and 30.2 per cent in 2016. For post-secondary certificates, diplomas or degrees, the number was 53.1 per cent in 2021 and 50.8 per cent in 2016.
Bachelor’s degrees or higher were 15.7 per cent in 2021 and 12.8 per cent in 2016. Those with a master’s degree in 2021 amounted to 3.4 per cent, compared to 2.6 per cent in 2016. Doctorate degrees represented 0.8 per cent in 2021 and 0.6 per cent in 2016.
The recently released census figures also show workplace distribution, with the 2021 census taken during stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The worker total was 8,415, with 5,465 at their usual place of work, 1,645 at no fixed workplace address and 1,300 working from home. None worked outside Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
