English-French Bilingualism Outside Quebec: An Economic Portrait of Bilinguals in Canada

In this report, The Conference Board of Canada seeks to build a portrait of bilingual workers in Canada and to quantify their contribution to GDP, with reference mainly to those outside Quebec.

Document Highlights

Bilinguals generate some 10 per cent of Canada’s GDP outside Quebec.

Outside Quebec, wealth creation by bilinguals is particularly significant in the finance, insurance, and real estate services sector, where their contribution to the national GDP approaches $31 billion.

Bilingual workers account for 38 per cent of New Brunswick’s GDP, and 12 per cent of GDP in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Bilinguals tend to stay in school longer, graduate from university in greater proportion, and earn higher incomes.