A large majority of school leavers (62%) had only grade 9 or 10 education, and most (66%) were 17 years of age or younger. In terms of socioeconomic status, leavers were more likely to:

• come from a single-parent household;
• be married (especially females);
• have children of their own; and
• have parents with a low level of education and blue-collar jobs.

As well, youths with physical disabilities and especially aboriginal youths were more likely to leave school. Immigrants and their children, however, had a lower likelihood of dropping out of school than their native-born counterparts.

Attitudes and characteristics of the education system also played a substantial role in school leaving. Of school leavers, 40% of men and 41% of women reported that they dropped out because of "school-related" issues. This reason was given by more people than work-related and personal or family factors.