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Office of Francophone Affairs
777 Bay Street, 6th floor
Toronto, Ontario  M7A 2J4


Tel.: (416) 325-4949 – 1 800 268-7507
Fax: (416) 325-4980
Internet : www.ofa.gov.on.ca
E-mail: ofa@ontario.ca

info-stats
Statistical Profile of the Francophone
Community in Ontario

N^o 3 – May 2000

Labour Force Activity

This profile is based on Statistics Canada's 1996 Census. The participation rate of Ontario's Francophones in the labour force is illustrated by the activity rate, that is the percentage of the total labour force compared to the total population; and by the unemployment rate which is the percentage of people looking for work compared to the total labour force. The data is based on persons 15 years of age and over, excluding residents of institutions.

Participation Rate

Francophones not as active on the labour force

• Francophone labour force participation is slightly lower than that of the general population (64% compared to 66%). This is true for both sexes (58% compared to 60% for women); (71% compared to 73% for men). As for the general population, francophone men have a higher participation rate than francophone women (Men: 71% Women: 58%).
• In the less than 35-years-old group, Francophones have a higher rate of labour force participation than the general population. The reverse holds true in the 45-and-older group.
• The rate of labour force participation for francophone women is substantially lower in the Southwestern region (50%) and the Northeastern region (53%) than elsewhere in the province.
• Among men, the participation rate is lowest in Northeastern Ontario (66%) and highest in Central Ontario (74%).

Age is a factor in participation

• Francophones 15 to 19 years of age have the lowest rate of labour force participation (50%); followed by those 45 to 65 years of age (63%). The difference in the participation rate of Francophones and the general population is highest in the 45 to 65 years old age group (63% compared to 70%).

Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate of Francophones is similar to the general population (9%)

• Francophone women have a slightly lower unemployment rate than the general population (9% compared to 10%) while francophone men have a slightly higher rate than men in general (10% compared to 9%).
• Francophone men and women show a higher unemployment rate in Northeastern Ontario (11% and 13%) than in other regions. The unemployment rate of francophone men is also relatively high in the Northwestern region (12%).
• The unemployment rate for young francophones 15 to 24 years of age is twice as high as the rate for the general francophone population (19% compared to 9%). The situation of young francophone women is not better. At the provincial level, the unemployment rate for francophone women 15 to 24 years of age is about the same as the rate for francophone men in the same age group (19%). The unemployment rate for both men and wome
  n in the same age group in the general population is 18%.

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info-stats is a series of fact sheets analyzing statistical data on Francophones in Ontario. The information is based on Statistics Canada's 1996 Census. A complete analysis on francophone women, youth, seniors and Francophones in general has been published by the OFA. To obtain copies of these profiles, please call Publications Ontario at (416) 326-5300 or at 1 800 668-9938.

info-stats is produced by the Office of Francophone Affairs of the Government of Ontario.

info-stats est disponible en français.