Commission’s employment equity activities in 2016
In 2016, the Commission negotiated agreements with 30 employers that were not in compliance with the Employment Equity Act. Each agreement outlined actions that the employer would take to improve their EE performance.
The Commission produced 42 audit reports for federally regulated employers. These reports acknowledged the actions these employers have taken to fulfill their employment equity obligations.
The Commission issued 30 status reports for employers that achieved good employment equity results in their industry sectors. The status reports also flag outstanding challenges facing these employers.
Twenty years of Canada’s Employment Equity Act:
Are we there yet?
The short answer is: no.
Over the past two decades, the face of Canada’s workforce has changed for the better. Despite progress, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and visible minorities can still be better represented across Canada’s workplaces. The following four bar-graphs show the representation of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and women in Canada’s federally regulated workplaces over the last 20 years.
Figure 109
Representation of visible minorities in the public and private sectors
- Public Sector
- Private Sector
- Availability
1996
10.3%
4.7%
9.2%
1997
10.3%
5.1%
9.7%
1998
10.3%
5.9%
9.9%
1999
10.3%
5.5%
10.5%
2000
10.3%
6.7%
10.7%
2001
12.6%
7.1%
11.7%
2002
12.6%
7.4%
12.2%
2003
12.6%
8.5%
12.7%
2004
12.6%
8.9%
13.3%
2005
12.6%
9.3%
14.1%
2006
15.3%
9.6%
14.9%
2007
15.3%
10%
15.9%
2008
15.3%
10.9%
16.6%
2009
15.3%
11.8%
17.1%
2010
15.3%
12.6%
17.8%
2011
17.8%
13.2%
18.2%
2012
17.8%
13.7%
18.6%
2013
17.8%
13.2%
19.6%
2014
17.8%
13.8%
20.4%
Text version
Horizontal bar graph showing the representation of visible minorities in the public and private sectors. Y-axis represents the year. X-axis represents the percentage. 1996: Availability = 10.3%; Public Sector = 4.7%; Private Sector = 9.2%. 1997: Availability = 10.3%; Public Sector = 5.1%; Private Sector = 9.7%. 1998: Availability = 10.3%; Public Sector = 5.9%; Private Sector = 9.9%. 1999: Availability = 10.3%; Public Sector = 5.5%; Private Sector = 10.5%. 2000: Availability = 10.3%; Public Sector = 6.7%; Private Sector = 10.7%. 2001: Availability = 12.6%; Public Sector = 7.1%; Private Sector = 11.7%. 2002: Availability = 12.6%; Public Sector = 7.4%; Private Sector = 12.2%. 2003: Availability = 12.6%; Public Sector = 8.5%; Private Sector = 12.7%. 2004: Availability = 12.6%; Public Sector = 8.9%; Private Sector = 13.3%. 2005: Availability = 12.6%; Public Sector = 9.3%; Private Sector = 14.1%. 2006: Availability = 15.3%; Public Sector = 9.6%; Private Sector = 14.9%. 2007: Availability = 15.3%; Public Sector = 10.0%; Private Sector = 15.9%. 2008: Availability = 15.3%; Public Sector = 10.9%; Private Sector = 16.6%. 2009: Availability = 15.3%; Public Sector = 11.8%; Private Sector = 17.1%. 2010: Availability = 15.3%; Public Sector = 12.6%; Private Sector = 17.8%. 2011: Availability = 17.8%; Public Sector = 13.2%; Private Sector = 18.2%. 2012: Availability = 17.8%; Public Sector = 13.7%; Private Sector = 18.6%. 2013: Availability = 17.8%; Public Sector = 13.2%; Private Sector = 19.6%. 2014: Availability = 17.8%; Public Sector = 13.8%; Private Sector = 20.4%.Figure 1110
Representation of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors
- Public Sector
- Private Sector
- Availability
1996
6.5%
3.3%
2.7%
1997
6.5%
3.9%
2.3%
1998
6.5%
4.6%
2.3%
1999
6.5%
4.7%
2.4%
2000
6.5%
4.9%
2.3%
2001
5.8%
5%
2.3%
2002
5.8%
5.2%
2.3%
2003
5.8%
5.3%
2.3%
2004
5.8%
5.5%
2.5%
2005
5.8%
5.5%
2.7%
2006
4.9%
5.5%
2.7%
2007
4.9%
5.6%
2.7%
2008
4.9%
5.6%
2.7%
2009
4.9%
5.6%
2.7%
2010
4.9%
5.6%
2.6%
2011
4.9%
5.7%
2.6%
2012
4.9%
5.8%
2.6%
2013
4.9%
5.7%
2.7%
2014
4.9%
5.6%
2.8%
Text version
Horizontal bar graph showing the representation of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors. Y-axis represents the year. X-axis represents the percentage. 1996: Availability = 6.5%; Public Sector = 3.3%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 1997: Availability = 6.5%; Public Sector = 3.9%; Private Sector = 2.3%. 1998: Availability = 6.5%; Public Sector = 4.6%; Private Sector = 2.3%. 1999: Availability = 6.5%; Public Sector = 4.7%; Private Sector = 2.4%. 2000: Availability = 6.5%; Public Sector = 4.9%; Private Sector = 2.3%. 2001: Availability = 5.8%; Public Sector = 5.0%; Private Sector = 2.3%. 2002: Availability = 5.8%; Public Sector = 5.2%; Private Sector = 2.3%. 2003: Availability = 5.8%; Public Sector = 5.3%; Private Sector = 2.3%. 2004: Availability = 5.8%; Public Sector = 5.5%; Private Sector = 2.5%. 2005: Availability = 5.8%; Public Sector = 5.5%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 2006: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.5%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 2007: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.6%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 2008: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.6%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 2009: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.6%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 2010: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.6%; Private Sector = 2.6%. 2011: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.7%; Private Sector = 2.6%. 2012: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.8%; Private Sector = 2.8%. 2013: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.7%; Private Sector = 2.7%. 2014: Availability = 4.9%; Public Sector = 5.6%; Private Sector = 2.8%.Figure 1211
Representation of Indigenous people in the public and private sectors
- Public Sector
- Private Sector
- Availability
1996
2.1%
2.4%
1.2%
1997
2.1%
2.7%
1.3%
1998
2.1%
2.9%
1.3%
1999
2.1%
3.3%
1.5%
2000
2.1%
3.1%
1.5%
2001
2.6%
3.2%
1.6%
2002
2.6%
3.3%
1.7%
2003
2.6%
3.5%
1.7%
2004
2.6%
3.7%
1.7%
2005
2.6%
3.7%
1.8%
2006
3.1%
3.8%
1.8%
2007
3.1%
3.9%
1.9%
2008
3.1%
4.1%
1.9%
2009
3.1%
4.2%
1.9%
2010
3.1%
4.3%
1.9%
2011
3.5%
4.4%
2%
2012
3.5%
4.6%
2%
2013
3.5%
5.1%
2.1%
2014
3.5%
5.1%
2.1%
Text version
Horizontal bar graph showing the representation of Indigenous people in the public and private sectors. Y-axis represents the year. X-axis represents the percentage. 1996: Availability = 2.1%; Public Sector = 2.4%; Private Sector = 1.2%. 1997: Availability = 2.1%; Public Sector = 2.7%; Private Sector = 1.3%. 1998: Availability = 2.1%; Public Sector = 2.9%; Private Sector = 1.3%. 1999: Availability = 2.1%; Public Sector = 3.3%; Private Sector = 1.5%. 2000: Availability = 2.1%; Public Sector = 3.1%; Private Sector = 1.5%. 2001: Availability = 2.6%; Public Sector = 3.2%; Private Sector = 1.6%. 2002: Availability = 2.6%; Public Sector = 3.3%; Private Sector = 1.7%. 2003: Availability = 2.6%; Public Sector = 3.5%; Private Sector = 1.7%. 2004: Availability = 2.6%; Public Sector = 3.7%; Private Sector = 1.7%. 2005: Availability = 2.6%; Public Sector = 3.7%; Private Sector = 1.8%. 2006: Availability = 3.1%; Public Sector = 3.8%; Private Sector = 1.8%. 2007: Availability = 3.1%; Public Sector = 3.9%; Private Sector = 1.9%. 2008: Availability = 3.1%; Public Sector = 4.1%; Private Sector = 1.9%. 2009: Availability = 3.1%; Public Sector = 4.2%; Private Sector = 1.9%. 2010: Availability = 3.1%; Public Sector = 4.3%; Private Sector = 1.9%. 2011: Availability = 3.5%; Public Sector = 4.4%; Private Sector = 2.0%. 2012: Availability = 3.5%; Public Sector = 4.6%; Private Sector = 2.0%. 2013: Availability = 3.5%; Public Sector = 5.1%; Private Sector = 2.1%. 2014: Availability = 3.5%; Public Sector = 5.1%; Private Sector = 2.1%.Figure 1312
Representation of women in the public and private sectors
- Public Sector
- Private Sector
- Availability
1996
46.4%
49.5%
44.8%
1997
46.4%
50.5%
44.6%
1998
46.4%
51.5%
44.3%
1999
46.4%
51.4%
44.8%
2000
46.4%
52.9%
43.7%
2001
47.3%
53.3%
44.9%
2002
47.3%
53.4%
44.4%
2003
47.3%
52.4%
44%
2004
47.3%
53.9%
43.4%
2005
47.3%
54.2%
43.3%
2006
47.9%
54.4%
43.1%
2007
47.9%
55%
42.7%
2008
47.9%
55.4%
42.6%
2009
47.9%
55.3%
42.3%
2010
47.9%
55.3%
41.7%
2011
48.2%
55.3%
41.2%
2012
48.2%
54.2%
40.9%
2013
48.2%
54.1%
41.6%
2014
48.2%
54.3%
41.4%