Explore and discover accessible data about Ontario youth!
The Data Stories in this section highlight how economic wellbeing has changed for Ontario youth since 2016, and how comfortably Ontario youth are able to meet their material needs and achieve their desired standard of living. The data is based on a selection of indicators that provide a broad perspective, including income, employment, type of employment, and youth who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).
Low-Income Status
The number and percentage of youth aged 15-29 in households that are Low Income Cut-Off After Tax (LICO-AT)* decreased substantially, from 14.7% in 2011 to 8% in 2021. The lower percentage of low-income youth in 2021 was likely because of the COVID-19 pandemic and government support measures like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).
*What is the LICO-AT? ↓
The Low-Income Cut-Off After Tax (LICO-AT) is an income threshold in Canada used to determine if a family struggles to afford basic needs like food, housing, and clothing. If a family earns below the set income threshold, they are spending a significantly larger portion of their income on food, shelter, and clothing than the average family.
Income Disparity Among Ontario Youth (15-29) — LICO-AT vs. Non-LICO-AT
Key Takeaway: The proportion of youth living in a low-income household decreased substantially from 2011 to 2021. In 2011, 15% of youth lived in a low-income household, whereas in 2021, 8% of youth lived in low-income households.
The number and percentage of youth aged 15-29 in households that are LICO-AT decreased substantially, from 14.7% (369,400) in 2011 to 8% (212,360) in 2021.
The household incomes of youth increased substantially from 2011 to 2021. In 2011, the average household income of youth was just over $45,000; in 2021, the average household income rose to roughly $60,000.
Youth between the ages of 25-29 experienced the greatest increase in average household income between 2011 and 2021.
Again, the lower percentage of low-income youth in 2021 was likely because of government support measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment Status of Ontario Youth (15-29) in the Labour Force
Youth Unemployment Rates in Ontario
The chart below shows that unemployment rates increased for youth of all ages from 2016 to 2021.
The unemployment rate for all youth in Ontario grew from 16% to 20% in 2021.
This is likely because the census was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when several workplaces had to downsize operations or shut down, either temporarily or permanently.
Self-Employed Ontario Youth who are Classed Workers
The chart below shows there was an increase in youth who were classed workers* and were self-employed (incorporated and unincorporated) between 2016 and 2021, potentially due to youth having taken on self-employment opportunities during the pandemic. Self-employment was more frequently found among youth aged 25-29.
*Persons who are employed can be classified as an employee (working for others in the context of an employer-employee relationship) or as self-employed (operating a business, farm or professional practice, alone or in partnership, incorporated or unincorporated).
Youth Unemployment Rates in Ontario by Immigration Status (2021)
The chart below shows that immigrant youth faced a higher unemployment rate than Canadian-born youth in 2021, particularly for those aged 15-19.
Youth Unemployment Rates in Ontario by Types of Immigration Status (2021)
The chart below shows that there was a wide gap between the unemployment rates of youth of different types of immigration status in 2021.
In 2021, the unemployment rate of refugee youth aged 25-29 was 21% higher than the 13% for Canadian-born youth (see above).
The unemployment rate of non-permanent residents (youth who have been authorized to enter Canada for temporary residence purposes, such as those on study or work permits) and economic immigrants aged 25-29 was 11% lower than for Canadian-born youth (see above).
Employment Types Among Ontario Youth (2021)
The chart below shows that 93.5% of all workers aged 15-29 were employees working for wages, salary, tips or commissions in 2021.
Approximately 5.8% were self-employed and 0.7% were unpaid family workers.
The majority of youth working as unpaid family workers are aged 15-19.
Ontario Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)*
The chart below shows that the proportion of youth who were Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) was 21% for youth aged 25-29 in 2021. This figure dropped to below pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
*Young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) can be at risk of becoming socially excluded. There can also be significant costs to a province in having a high percentage of youth classified as NEET, including those associated with being more vulnerable to homelessness, involved with the justice system, reliant on social assistance, etc.
REFLECTIONS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
The data from the 2021 census illuminates the impacts that COVID-19 had on employment opportunities for young people in Ontario.
The spike in self-employment during the pandemic speaks to the resourcefulness of Ontario youth in pursuing entrepreneurial endeavours in times of limited employment opportunities.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted education and employment for youth aged 15-29, they persevered through the social and economic disruptions.
The census data also reveals different demographic groups who face greater economic barriers.
DATA DASHBOARD
Curious about how youth in your census division are doing on various indicators? The Data Dashboard is an interactive tool that lets you explore, create, and download tables and visualizations on how Ontario youth are doing along different dimensions at the provincial and local levels (census levels).