Men head to oil patch instead of university

By Chris Adams

Young Albertan men are opting for careers in the oil patch rather than attending school, a Statistics Canada report says.

The report — which looks at employment information from 2001–2008 — claims the percentage of men aged 17–24 attending school in Alberta fell from 46 to 37 per cent as a result of rising wages.

Wages in oil producing provinces rose 21 per cent for males aged 17–24. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador were categorized as oil producing provinces.
“The resulting sharp wage growth in the oil producing provinces seems to have caused a reduction in school enrolment,” reads the report.

Wage growth in non-oil producing provinces was at 4 per cent, five times less than oil producing provinces. Enrolment in secondary and post-secondary education rose from 52 to 53 per cent in these provinces.

Permanent enrolment in postsecondary institutions fell from 17 to 16 per cent in Alberta. In non-oil producing provinces, permanent post-secondary enrolment rose from 20 to 24 per cent.

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