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Francophone Seniors in Ontario — Statistical ProfileTABLE OF CONTENTSGLOSSARY AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION INTRODUCTIONThe Office of Francophone Affairs has prepared updates of the statistical profiles of Ontario Francophones using Statistics Canada data from the 2001 Census. Similar profiles were published in 1999 based on the findings of the 1996 Census. This profile gives a statistical overview of Francophone seniors in Ontario. Four other profiles dealing with Francophones in Ontario, Francophone Youth in Ontario, Francophone Women in Ontario and Francophone Racial Minorities in Ontario are also available. They provide a closer examination of the data related to specific segments of the Francophone population of Ontario. METHODOLOGYThis profile of Francophone Seniors in Ontario is based on the findings of Statistics Canada's 2001 Census, augmented occasionally with data from the 1996 Census. The study deals with Francophones aged 65 years and over, supplemented with data for the age group 55 to 64 where available. The Office of Francophone Affairs defines Ontario Francophones on the basis of their response to the question concerning mother tongue: What is the language first learned at home in childhood and still understood? For the purposes of this profile, the term "Francophones" designates those who gave French as their sole mother tongue or as one of their mother tongues (single or multiple responses). The study considers a number of variables, including socio-demographic characteristics, retention of mother tongue, level of education, labour force participation and income. Francophone seniors were compared to seniors in the general Ontario population to highlight the differences between the two groups. Two different forms were used for the 2001 Census. The short 2A form was distributed to 100% of the population and included a question on mother tongue. The longer 2B form was distributed to 20% of the population and contained more comprehensive questions regarding education, income, occupation, etc. The data in this profile is taken only from the long form (Profile 2B). DEMOGRAPHYREPRESENTATIONIn 2001, there were 76,925 Francophones 65 years of age and over; they represented 5.6% of persons in this age group in the general population. Francophone seniors represent a larger percentage of the total senior population in Northeastern and Eastern Ontario, i.e. 26.7% and 14.9% respectively. Elsewhere in the province, they account for less than 6% of seniors in the region. Francophones aged 65 and over account for a larger percentage of all people in that age group than do Francophones as a whole when including all age groups in Northeastern (26.7% compared to 25.2%), Northwestern (5.5% compared to 4%), and Southwestern Ontario (4% compared to 2.3%). In Central and Eastern Ontario, the proportion of Francophones in the senior population is fairly similar to the proportion of Francophones in the general population. Seniors represent 14.4% of the Francophone population, compared to 12.3% of the total population of the province. In 1996, they represented 13% of the Francophone population and 11.7% of the total population of the province. It is noted that the Francophone population continues to age. Francophones aged 65 and over are distinctly overrepresented in Southwestern Ontario, where they account for 23.5% of the Francophone population, while this age group accounts for only 13.5% of the total population in this region. Francophone seniors are also overrepresented in Northwestern (17.5% compared to 12.7%) and Central Ontario (13.7% compared to 11.8%). In Northeastern and Eastern Ontario, the proportion of seniors in the Francophone population is similar to the proportion of seniors in the general population. The percentage of seniors in Francophone communities varies considerably, from 5% in some communities in Central Ontario to over 30% in some communities in Southwestern and Northwestern Ontario. In 2001, there were 65,875 Francophones between the ages of 55 and 64 in Ontario, accounting for 6.2% of the general population in this age group. In every region except Southwestern Ontario, there is a greater percentage of Francophones in this age group than among the general population aged 65 and over. Francophones between the ages of 55 and 64 represent 12.3% of the Francophone population, compared to 9.4% of the general population. They are overrepresented in every region. The gap between the two groups is the largest in Southwestern Ontario, where Francophones in this age group make up 15.7% of Francophones in the region, compared to 9.8% of the general population. In 2001, there were 44,720 Francophone women aged 65 and over, representing 58.1% of the Francophone population in that age group. This percentage is higher than that of women in the overall Francophone population (52.7%) and it is also higher than the percentage of women in that age group in the general population (56%). With the exception of Northwestern Ontario, women are overrepresented among Francophone seniors in every region, accounting for 60.8% of Francophones aged 65 and over in Southwestern Ontario. In Northwestern Ontario, they account for only 46.2% of Francophone seniors while they account for 55.8% of the general population aged 65 and over in the region. There is a larger proportion of women among persons aged 75 and over than among those 65 to 74 years of age. They account for 63.3% of Francophone seniors aged 75 and over and for only 54.9% of Francophones aged 65 to 74. The same trend can be observed in the general population, where women represent 60.3% of those aged 75 and over and 52.9% of those between the ages of 65 and 74. REGIONAL DISTRIBUTIONAs is true for Ontario's Francophone population as a whole, there are proportionally more Francophone seniors in Eastern and Northeastern Ontario than in the other regions. Eastern and Northeastern Ontario respectively account for 37% and 26.8% of the Francophone population 65 years and over, while these percentages drop respectively to 10.4% and 2.1% for Southwestern and Northwestern Ontario. Close to one quarter (23.7%) of Francophone seniors live in Central Ontario, the region where close to two thirds (64.3%) of all individuals aged 65 and over live. Between 1996 and 2001, the proportion of Francophones aged 65 and over decreased from 38.5% to 37% in Eastern Ontario. During the same period, it increased in Central (from 22.5% to 23.7%) and Northeastern Ontario (from 25.7% to 26.8%). In the other regions, the proportion decreased by less than one per cent between 1996 and 2001. The regional distribution of Francophones between the ages of 55 and 64 is similar to that of Francophone seniors aged 65 and over. However, they represent a slightly larger proportion in Central Ontario (25.6% compared to 23.7%) and a slightly smaller proportion in Southwestern Ontario (8.1% compared to 10.4%). In the other regions, the difference in percentages between the two groups is less than one per cent. FAMILY SITUATIONCompared to the general population aged 15 and over, seniors are more likely to live in a non-family household. A non-family household consists of individuals living alone or with other individuals who may or may not be relatives but who do not constitute a census family 1 The gap between the general population and the population aged 65 and over is substantially wider for women than for men. Among Francophone women aged 65 and over, 43.5% live in a non-family household. This percentage is twice as high as for the female Francophone population aged 15 and over (16.9%). The gap is narrower for Francophone men: 21.1% of Francophone men aged 65 and over live in a non-family household, compared to 14.8% of the Francophone male population aged 15 and over. The percentage of female seniors living in non-family households is more than double that of male seniors: 43.5% of Francophone women aged 65 and over live in a non-family household, compared to 21.1% of their male counterparts. This trend is also found in the general population: 38.1% of female and 17.1% of male seniors live in non-family households. This observation holds true for every region except Northwestern Ontario. In that region, 48.7% of Francophone female seniors live in non-family households compared to 30.1% of their male counterparts. The percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over living in non-family households decreased between 1996 and 2001. Statistics show that 48.4% of Francophone women aged 65 and over lived in non-family households in 1996, compared to 43.5% in 2001, while 22.5% of Francophone men aged 65 and over lived in non-family households in 1996, compared to 21.1% in 2001. The percentage of seniors living in nonfamily households is higher for Francophones than for the general population aged 65 and over. This is true for both sexes and in every region, except in Northeastern Ontario, where the proportion of Francophone men living in nonfamily households is similar to that of men aged 65 and over in the general population (20.3% compared to 20.6%). Accordingly, Francophones aged 55 to 64 are more likely to live in non-family households than their counterparts in the general population. As many as 21.1% of Francophone women aged 55 to 64 live in non-family households, compared to 17.5% of women in this age group in the general population. For Francophone men in this age group, the percentage is 15.9%, compared to 12.2% for men in this age group in the general population. As noted for the group aged 65 and over, the percentage of women aged 55 to 64 living in non-family households is higher than for their male counterparts in both the Francophone and the general population. However, the gap between the sexes is narrower in this age group than in the group aged 65 and over.
LANGUAGE RETENTIONThe rate of retention of the mother tongue is determined on the basis of the language spoken at home for persons whose mother tongue is French. In Ontario as a whole, 56.5% of Francophones report that French is the language spoken most often at home. The language retention rate of Francophones aged 65 and over is higher than that of adults aged 25 to 54 (55.1% compared to 51.3%). As is true for Francophones of all ages, the French language retention rate decreased among Francophones aged 65 and over between 1996 and 2001, dropping from 57.4% in 1996 to 55.1% in 2001. Similar to the Francophone population as a whole in these regions, Francophone seniors in Eastern and Northeastern Ontario show a higher language retention rate (70.9% and 70.7% respectively). These two regions also have larger concentrations of Francophones. Also, the language retention rate among seniors is higher than among people aged 25 to 54. It is distinctly lower, however, in Southwestern (23.5%), Central (28.6%) and Northwestern Ontario (30.5%). In the latter regions, it is also lower than the language retention rate of Francophones aged 25 to 54. The language retention rate among Francophones aged 55 to 64 is comparable to the provincial rate for those aged 25 to 54 (51.2% compared to 51.3%). However, this rate varies from region to region. As is true for Francophones aged 65 and over, the retention rate for Francophones aged 55 to 64 is higher than the rate for Francophones aged 25 to 54 in Eastern and Northeastern Ontario. The reverse is true in the other regions. EDUCATIONGenerally speaking, Francophone seniors have a lower level of education than seniors in the general population. They are overrepresented in the group with less than a Grade 9 education and underrepresented in the groups with more than a Grade 9 education. This observation is also valid for Francophones 55 to 64 years of age. LESS THAN GRADE 9The percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over with less than a Grade 9 education is 42%, compared to 28.4% for all Ontarians aged 65 and over. Such overrepresentation is seen in every region. The percentage of Francophones who did not complete Grade 9 is especially high in Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario, where more than half of all Francophones in this age group fall into this category (55.6% and 52.8% respectively). The percentage of Francophone women aged 65 and over with less than a Grade 9 education is lower than the percentage of men (40.8% compared to 43.7%). Among seniors in the general population, the reverse is true (29.1% of female seniors compared to 27.6% of male seniors). Between 1996 and 2001, the percentage of Francophone seniors with less than a Grade 9 education decreased from 49.2% to 42%. It also decreased in the general population, dropping from 31.9% in 1996 to 28.4% in 2001. The percentage of Francophones aged 55 to 64 who did not complete Grade 9 is substantially lower than for Francophones aged 65 and over (20.5% compared to 42%). This holds true for both sexes. The percentage of women aged 55 to 64 who did not complete Grade 9 is 18.8%, compared to 40.8% of women aged 65 and over. Similarly, among Francophone men, the percentages are 22.5% for those aged 55 to 64 and 43.7% for those aged 65 and over. The highest proportions of Francophones aged 55 to 64 who did not complete Grade 9 are found in Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario (29.4% and 31.4% respectively). The percentage of women aged 55 to 64 who did not complete Grade 9 is also lower than the percentage of men in this age group who did not complete Grade 9 (18.8% compared to 22.5%). HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAThe percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over who have at least a high school diploma is distinctly lower than for Ontarians in general in this age group (36.1% compared to 45.6%). This observation holds true for all of the regions. The highest proportions of Francophones aged 65 and over with at least a high school diploma are found in Eastern (42.3%) and Central Ontario (41%). Among Francophones aged 65 and over, slightly fewer women than men have a high school diploma (35.2% compared to 37.3%). Between 1996 and 2001, the percentage of Francophone seniors with at least a high school diploma increased from 31.2% to 36.1%. Between1996 and 2001, it also increased in the general population (from 41.8% to 45.6%). As is true of those aged 65 and over, the percentage of Francophones 55 to 64 years of age with at least a high school diploma is lower than that of this age group in the general population (55.6% compared to 63.7%). This observation holds true for every region. Francophone women aged 55 to 64 are less likely than their counterparts in the general population to have obtained at least a high school diploma (56.5% compared to 61.6%). This is also true for Francophone men in that age group (54.5% compared to 65.9%). However, the educational gap between Francophones and thegeneral population aged 55 to 64 is greater for men than for women. Unlike their more senior counterparts, Francophone women aged 55 to 64 are more likely than Francophone men in this age group to have at least a high school diploma (56.5% compared to 54.5%). POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONThe percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over who have a university degree is lower than for seniors in the general population (6.2% compared to 8.1%). This is true in every region. The percentage of Francophones with a university degree is highest in Eastern Ontario (8.9%) and lowest in Northeastern (2.6%) and Northwestern Ontario (2.5%). The percentage of female Francophone seniors with a university degree is lower than that of their male counterparts (4.5% compared to 8.6%). The same trend can be observed in the general population (5.2% compared to 11.8% for men aged 65 and over). Between 1996 and 2001, the percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over with a university degree increased from 4.8% to 6.2%. In the general population aged 65 and over, it increased from 6.7% to 8.1%. The percentage of Francophones 55 to 64 years of age with a university degree is lower than for this age group in the general population (11.8% compared to 15.4%). With the exception of Francophone women in Southwestern Ontario, this holds true in all regions for both men and women in this age group. The gap between Francophone women and women in the general population, however, is narrower than the gap between Francophone men and men in the general population. Francophone women aged 55 to 64 with a university degree are underrepresented compared to their male counterparts (10.8% compared to 12.8%). Of this age group in the general population, 11.8% of women and 19.2% of men have a university degree. LABOUR MARKETLABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATIONThe participation rate is the total active population, i.e. individuals with a job or looking for a job, as a percentage of the total population 15 years of age and over. The participation rate for Francophones aged 65 and over is lower than for seniors in the general population in every region. This is true for both sexes, except for Francophone women in Central and Northwestern Ontario. The participation rate of Francophone seniors is highest in Central Ontario (9.4%) and lowest in Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario (4.7% and 4.9% respectively). The participation rate of women aged 65 and over is lower than that of their male counterparts. The participation rate of Francophone women aged 65 and over is 4.3%, compared to 10.5% for men in this age group. A gap between women and men is also found among seniors in the general population (5.5% compared to 14%). The participation rate of Francophone seniors increased from 6% in 1996 to 6.9% in 2001. It also increased among seniors in the general population (from 8.8% in 1996 to 9.3% in 2001). As is true for Francophones aged 65 and over, the participation rate of Francophones aged 55 to 64 is lower than for persons in this age group in the general population (46.6% compared to 55.9%). This holds true in every region for both men and women in this age group, with the exception of Francophone women in Central Ontario. The participation rate of Francophone women aged 55 to 64 is lower than that of their male counterparts (38.5% compared to 55.7%). The same trend can be noted in the general population. The participation rate of women aged 55 to 64 is lower than that of their male counterparts (46.2% compared to 66%). UNEMPLOYMENT RATEThe unemployment rate is the percentage of the active population that is unemployed compared to the total active population. The unemployment rate is higher among Francophones aged 65 and over than among persons in this age group in the general population. This observation applies to both sexes. As is true of seniors in general, the unemployment rate among Francophone women is higher than among Francophone men. The gap between the sexes in terms of unemployment rates is greater for Francophones aged 65 and over than for seniors in the general population. Unemployment among Francophone seniors decreased from 7% to 5.3% between 1996 and 2001. This decrease is due largely to a drop in unemployment among Francophone men (from 6.4% in 1996 to 4% in 2001). Among seniors in the general population, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.5% in 1996 to 4.2% in 2001. As is the case for Francophones aged 65 and over, the unemployment rate for Francophones aged 55 to 64 is higher than for people in this age group in the general population (5% compared to 4.2%). However, there are differences between the sexes. The unemployment rate for Francophone men aged 55 to 64 is higher than for this group of men in the general population (6.1% compared to 4.3%). The reverse is true for women in this age group. The unemployment rate for Francophone women aged 55 to 64 is 3.5% compared to 4% for their counterparts in the general population. Contrary to the trend noted for people aged 65 and over, the unemployment rate for women aged 55 to 64 is lower than that of their male counterparts in both the Francophone population (3.5% compared to 6.1%) and the general population (4% compared to 4.3%). The gap between the sexes is wider in the Francophone population than in the general population. INCOMETOTAL INCOME LEVELSWhen it comes to total per capita income, Francophone seniors do not fare as well as Ontario seniors in general. There are more Francophones at the lowest income levels and fewer at the highest income levels. This applies to both men and women. Among Francophones aged 65 and over, 58.2% have an annual income of less than $20,000, compared to 53.6% of people in this age group in the general population. Conversely, 12.9% of Francophones aged 65 and over have an annual income of $40,000 or more, compared to 16.4% of their counterparts in the general population. There are higher proportions of Francophone women and women in general aged 65 and over at the lower levels of income than is the case for men in this age group, and this holds true for every region in the province. Among Francophone women aged 65 and over, 75.8% have an annual income of less than $20,000, compared to 41.7% of men. In the senior population in general, these percentages are 72% for women and 37.8% for men. Only 6.5% of Francophone women aged 65 and over have an annual income of $40,000 or more, compared to 18.9% of their male counterparts. In the senior population in general, the proportions of women and men with an annual income of $40,000 or more are 7.2% and 24.3% respectively. AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMEThe average total income of Francophone seniors is lower than that of Ontarians aged 65 and over in general and this holds true for both sexes. The average total income of Francophone women aged 65 and over is lower than for women in this age group in the general population in every region except Central Ontario, where it is $19,491 for Francophone women, compared to $18,961 for women in the general population. The average total income of Francophone men aged 65 and over is lower than that of their counterparts in the general population in every region except Southwestern Ontario, where the average total income of Francophone men is higher than that of their counterparts in the general population ($36,435 compared to $33,102). In the age group 15 years and over, the average total income of Francophones is similar to that of the general population ($33,400 compared to $33,405). However, a review of the average total income by age shows that Francophone seniors fare less well than seniors in the general population. Table 17 shows that the average total income of Francophones is higher than that of the general population in the age groups below 40 but lower than that of the general population in the age groups 40 and over. The gap between Francophones and the general population increases with age. For the age group 40 to 64, the average total income of Francophones is 5.6% lower than that of all Ontarians in this age group, while for the age group 65 and over, the gap is 13.3%. LOW-INCOME CUT-OFFThe percentage of Francophones aged 65 and over who live below the lowincome cut-off is higher than for the general population in that age group (17.8% compared to 14.6%). This observation holds true for both sexes and in every region. However, the gap between Francophones and the general population is wider for women than men. Female Francophone seniors are twice as likely as their male counterparts to live below the low-income cut-off, (22.8% compared to 10.8%). For seniors in the general population, the percentages are 18.4% for women and 9.8% for men. The gender gap is even wider for Francophones aged 75 and over than for those aged 65 to 74. Three out of 10 Francophone women (29.9%) aged 75 and over have an income equal to or less than the low-income cut-off — close to three times the percentage of Francophone men in this age group (9.6%). Among Francophones aged 65 to 74, 17.7% of women and 11.4% of men live below the lowincome cut-off. Francophones aged 65 and over fare the worst in Central Ontario, with 23.7% of women and 15.3% of men living below the low-income cut-off. Northwestern Ontario also has higher proportions of seniors living below the low-income cut-off (24.2% and 13.2%), while Southwestern Ontario has the lowest proportion (20.8% for women and 7.4% for men). GLOSSARY AND TECHNICAL INFORMATIONDEFINITIONSDefinitions have been taken from the 2001 Census Dictionary and Census Consultation Guide of Statistics Canada. Average IncomeThe average income refers to the mean income of individuals 15 years of age and over who reported income for 2000. Average income is calculated by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of individuals by the number of individuals with income in that group. Census Family (modified in 2002)A census family refers to a married couple (with or without children of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without children of either or both partners), or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one child living in the same dwelling. A couple living common-law may be of opposite or same sex. "Children" in a census family include grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parents present (Form 2B variable). Family HouseholdRefers to a household that contains at least one census family, that is, a married couple with or without children, or a couple living common-law with or without children, or a lone parent living with one or more children (loneparent family). Francophone PopulationFrancophones are defined by the mother tongue Census question: What was the language first learned at home in childhood and still understood? In this document, Francophones include persons with French as their mother tongue or as one of their mother tongues (French single and multiple responses). Home LanguageRefers to the language spoken most often or on a regular basis at home by the individual at the time of the Census. Statistics Canada is gathering data on languages spoken regularly at home since 2001 (Form 2B variable). Labour ForceLabour force refers to persons 15 years of age and over who were employed or unemployed during the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day. Employed persons include those who did any work for pay or in selfemployment. Unemployed persons include those who had actively looked for work in the past four weeks, persons who were on temporary lay-off and expected to return to their job and persons who had definite arrangements to start a new job in four weeks or less. Level of EducationLevel of education refers to the highest grade or year of elementary or secondary school completed, or the highest year of university or non-university completed. The completion of a degree, certificate or diploma is considered to be at a higher level than years completed or attended without obtaining a diploma. This is a variable on Form 2B that is compiled for individuals 15 years and over (Form 2B variable). Low-Income Cut-OffRespondents in private households whose income is less than or equal to the low-income cut-off. The low-income cut-off is based on the size of the household and the residential area. Mother TongueMother tongue refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the Census (Form 2A variable). In the 2B questionnaire, the mother tongue question was asked after the three other questions on language. Non-Family HouseholdA non-family household consists of one person living alone or of two or more persons who share a private dwelling but do not constitute a family. This definition excludes couples with or without children. Participation RateThe rate of labour force participation is the percentage of the total active population, or the population that is employed or looking for work, compared to the population aged 15 and over (Form 2B variable). Total Per Capita IncomeTotal income refers to the total revenues received from the following sources during the calendar year 2000 by persons 15 years of age and over: total wages and salaries, net income from unincorporated non-farm business and/or professional practice, net farm self-employment income, government transfer payments (Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, Federal Child Tax benefits, and other income from government sources), investment income (dividends, interest and other investment income), retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities and other money income (Form 2B variable). Unemployment RateThe unemployment rate refers to the unemployed labour force expressed as a percentage of the total labour force in the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day (Form 2B variable). To request a free copy of this document, please contact:
Government of Ontario Tel.: 416 325-4949 or 1 800 268-7507 (toll free) Email: ofa@ontario.ca ISBN #: 0-7794-8694-3 (PDF) Copyright Agreement:Any reference made to this document must cite the Office of Francophone Affairs and Statistics Canada as the data source. This document or excerpts from this document can be copied, but are not to be sold. September 2005 |
       
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