Among those who are employed, there is a strong relationship between participation in training in the previous year and the types of jobs that individuals currently hold. As Table 5.5 shows, managers and professionals are significantly more likely than blue collar or sales and services workers to have participated in a post-secondary education program in the previous year. Similarly, individuals who work in the public sector and individuals who work in larger firms are also more likely to have participated. Interestingly, unionized workers are slightly less likely to have participated.29
| Characteristics | Participation rate (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Professional, managerial | 10.3 |
| Clerical, sales, service | 7.6 | |
| Blue collar | 5.3 | |
| Sector | Public | 9.9 |
| Private | 8.0 | |
| Self-employed | 1.8 | |
| Firm size | Less than 20 employees | 6.0 |
| 21-99 | 9.3 | |
| 100-500 | 7.4 | |
| 500+ | 8.2 | |
| Union status | Union members | 7.3 |
| Not union members | 8.2 |
Source: Authors’ calculations using Statistics Canada Adult Education and Training Survey (2003)
A more detailed analysis using multivariate logistic regression shows that age and gender remain significant factors in affecting the likelihood of participation even when we account for job and workplace characteristics.30 Similarly, occupation and firm size remain also significant predictors. However, sector and union status are no longer significant. In summary, women and younger adults are significantly more likely to return to school, as are individuals who work in large firms and managerial and professional occupations.
The Adult Education and Training Survey asked individuals why they returned to school. Respondents were asked to indicate if a standard set of reasons applied to their situation. Table 5.6 lists the reasons and the proportion of respondents who indicated that each reason applied to them. The most common reason given for returning to school was ‘to find or change jobs’ (53 percent), followed by ‘to do job better’ (48 percent) and ‘to increase income’ (43 percent). Among 25- to 34-year-olds, the most common reasons were find or change jobs and to increase income. There were no significant differences between men and women (not shown).
29 Of course this analysis does not tell us which came first. While it is plausible
that individuals in certain types of jobs are more likely to pursue post-secondary
programs it is also possible that participation in post-secondary program increases
the likelihood of obtaining certain types of jobs.
30 Results are not shown but are available from authors on request.