Equity groups and transitions

Information provided by the CLFDB/Statistics Canada study on the transition into employment of the equity groups is summarized in Figure 14. No information is available from this source for aboriginal people. For people belonging to visible minority groups and those with disabilities, the sample size permits only limited analysis. Nevertheless, the following points can be made.

• The indicator of employment stability was working all weeks during 1989 and 1990, i.e., staying in the same job for the 2 years or working in different jobs during that period without any period of joblessness. Designated groups generally faced more difficulties in keeping their jobs or in finding another one without an intervening period of joblessness than the rest of the population. People with disabilities were at a particular disadvantage. Statistics from HRD's Employment Equity Branch for 1990 reveal that members of visible minorities required far more referrals to obtain job placements than the general population and other designated equity groups: an average of 15.9 referrals to obtain one placement compared with only 4.5 for the general population.

• The designated groups spent more time not employed before getting a job, although the time spent in active job search was often not as long as it was for men in the general population. Again, people with disabilities were at a particular disadvantage.