Variance by Employment Status

The greatest differentiation by employment status exists between those within and those outside of the labour force. Those employed full-time, part-time and the self-employed are more likely to be Internet users. Unemployed Canadians report an average incidence of usage. Internet usage rates fall below average for homemakers and retirees, whereas students are the most likely group to be Internet users [Table 1d].

  • 86 per cent of full-time, 81 per cent of self-employed and 80 per cent of part-time employed Canadians are Internet users.
  • 70 per cent of unemployed Canadians are Internet users.
  • 66 per cent of homemakers and 41 per cent or retirees are Internet users.
  • 95 per cent of students are Internet users, 74 per cent of whom use the Internet daily.
“I never used it until I really had to at work. Now I don’t know what I would do without it.”
      (Winnipeg, new user)

“Internet ne serait pas vraiment utile dans mon métier, mais mes supérieurs l’ont.”
      (Montreal, new user)

“Internet access at my work is restricted to certain people, it is not part of my job, I’m not supposed to use it.”
      (Winnipeg, far non-user)

“The only place there’s Internet access at my work is in the boss’ office.”
      (Moncton, far non-user)

Variance by Employment Type

There are notable differences in Internet usage by employment type, indicating a relationship between type of work and usage. That being said, at least six in ten of all employed Canadians are Internet users regardless of employment type [Table 1d].

  • At 85 per cent, those employed in management and professional positions are more likely to be Internet users; just under two in three use the Internet daily.
  • 73 per cent of sales/service/clerical employees are Internet users.
  • 66 per cent of skilled tradespersons, 62 per cent of semi-skilled and 60 per cent of labourers are Internet users, each being significantly below the overall average.