Census > 2006 Census: Reference material >

Census questions on education: Some important changes

Census questions relating to education changed substantially between 2001 and 2006, principally to reflect developments in Canada’s education system.

These changes improved the quality of data and provided more precise information on the level of educational attainment as well as fields of study. For the first time, census information is available on the province, territory or country in which Canadians attained their highest level of education.

However, this means that comparisons with data from previous censuses will be limited. The only data that can be compared to the 2001 Census consist of the number of individuals who have a university degree as their highest level of educational attainment.

This is because categories relating to university degrees attained in 2006 – for example, bachelors and masters degrees – were similar to those used in 2001. The questions in 2006 concerning certification at other institutions of learning, such as trade schools and colleges, changed substantially from 2001.

'University certificate or diploma below bachelor level': Interpret data with caution

The overall quality of data for the variable titled 'Highest certificate, diploma or degree' in the 2006 Census is acceptable.

However, users of data from the category 'University certificate or diploma below bachelor level' should be aware that the 2006 Census showed unexpected growth in this category, compared with 2001.

According to the 2001 Census, 2.5% of respondents aged 15 years and over declared such a diploma. This proportion nearly doubled to 4.4% in 2006. This phenomenon was not found in other sources, such as the Labour Force Survey.

As a result, the 2006 Census results for this category should be treated with caution.

Attendance at school: Interpret data with caution

Users of census data should also treat data on attendance at school from the 2006 Census with caution.

This is because the census question on attendance at school changed in 2006 to focus on the type of educational institution attended.

Initial analysis has pointed to important discrepancies between 2006 data and data from previous censuses in this area, as well as to important variations with the Labour Force Survey. The analysis suggests that the 2006 Census data could have overestimated the attendance at school for the population aged 20 and over.

As a result, data on attendance at school were not included in any of the various standard or specialized data products, or in the online analytical document on education released on March 4, 2008.

More information on this subject will be available in the publication entitled Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census, scheduled for release later in 2008.

Major field of study: New classification system

For the first time with the 2006 Census, data on major field of study were coded using the system called Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), Canada 2000.

Previous censuses used the Major Field of Study Classification (MFS).

Statistics Canada recommends that users not make historical comparisons between these two systems. Even though some entries in the two are similar, the CIP Canada 2000 contains much more detail. Therefore, direct comparisons would be inappropriate.

A concordance table has been developed to allow users to see the relationship between the CIP and MFS systems, based on definitions. This table is available in the 2006 Census Dictionary (Appendix N).

However, users are cautioned that this type of concordance cannot be used to convert data from one system to the other.