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Aboriginal People in Manitoba 2000 Chapter 6 : Labour and Income

Because of lower employment rates, Aboriginal people are six times more likely to be dependent on government transfer payments, especially social assistance. According to 1996 Census data, government transfers were the major source of income for 30.8% of Aboriginal people in Manitoba aged 15+, as compared to just 5.1% of non-Aboriginal people.

There are differences among Aboriginal groups, corresponding to differences in employment rates. Government transfers were the major source of income for 20.1% of Metis and 37.5% of registered Indians. Employment was the major source of income for 64.1% of non-Aboriginal people, 56.8% of Metis, and 36.4% of registered Indians.

Employment was the major source of income for 35.6% of Status Indians on reserve, and for 33.4% in Winnipeg. Government transfers accounted for 40.2% on reserve and 39.9% in Winnipeg. For Status Indian families, whether on reserve or in Winnipeg, approximately as many families rely on transfers as employment. The highest local rates of dependence on government transfers are found among Status women living in Winnipeg (43.8%), and among Status residents of southern reserves whether female (46.3%) or male (42.5%).

In 1996, the median individual income ²¹ for non-Aboriginal people aged 15+, including all sources of income, was $18,258. For Metis the median income was $12,219, for Non-Status Indians $10,620, and for Status Indians $8,029. For Status Indians in Winnipeg, the median income was $8,850, off reserve outside Winnipeg $9,714, and on reserve $6,755.

One reason these income figures are so low is that only 1/3 of Aboriginal people reporting employment income worked full time, full year (FTFY) in 1995, compared to ˝ of the total population. Nationally, the average (not median) income of FTFY Aboriginal workers was $29,684, 21% lower than the national average,²² but much higher than the majority of Aboriginal people, who are supported by intermittent or part-time employment and/or social assistance.

For the Metis, there was little difference in median income inside or outside Winnipeg ($12,263 in Winnipeg). Due to the higher cost of living in Winnipeg, the average Metis person has a lower standard of living in Winnipeg than outside (see below).

The median income for non-Aboriginal women was $14,238, or 57.5% of the median male income of $24,751. The gap between male and female incomes is far less for Aboriginal people. Province-wide, the median Aboriginal female income is $8,977, or 83.8% of the median male income of $10,717.

In Winnipeg, the median income of Status women actually exceeds that of Status men: $8,996 vs. $8,410. This highly unusual statistic reflects the large numbers of single mothers on social assistance, at rates unavoidably exceeding average amounts earned through employment. The median income of Status men in Winnipeg, from all sources, is less than one third that of non-Aboriginal men ($8,410 vs. $25,797).