Indigenous and racialized employees remain significantly under-represented in leadership roles and over-represented in lower-level positions within British Columbia’s public service, according to new provincial research released Friday.
The findings were part of the latest report required under B.C.’s Anti-Racism Data Act, which mandates annual disclosure of data on systemic racism and racial equity.
“To address systemic racism in provincial government policies, programs and services, it’s crucial that we focus on research areas that matter most to Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities,” said George Chow, Minister of Citizens’ Services.
The report noted that although progress has been made in representation on provincially nominated boards and Crown agencies, challenges persist. Some Indigenous and racialized communities, along with those in rural and remote areas, continue to face barriers to civic participation.
In economic terms, racialized workers in B.C. still face significant pay gaps compared to their white counterparts. The research found that in nine out of 26 occupation groups analyzed, racialized employees earned notably less, even after accounting for differences in age, gender, education, and Canadian birth status.
Higher education doesn’t translate to higher pay
Additionally, higher education did not consistently lead to higher earnings for racialized workers in six occupation groups, challenging the widely held belief that education guarantees better pay.
Jessie Sunner, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives, emphasized the importance of these findings for guiding the province’s upcoming Anti-Racism Action Plan.
“The findings of this research are essential to that work,” said Sunner. “We will continue to lift people up so they can build better lives for themselves, their families and their communities.”
The Anti-Racism Data Committee, which collaborated on the research, outlined nine priority areas for 2025-27, including racial equity in public service employment, justice system disparities, health-care access, education outcomes, and housing inequities.
June Francis, chair of the Anti-Racism Data Committee, underscored the critical role of detailed research in addressing systemic racism effectively.
“We cannot fix what we do not understand,” Francis said. “This new release of research findings increases the province’s understanding of what Indigenous and racialized people have been saying for many years — government programs are not serving people equitably.”
The research also highlighted ongoing efforts by the B.C. government to tackle these disparities, including enhanced anti-racism training, adjusted recruitment strategies for board representation, and expanded research to include direct feedback from Indigenous and racialized communities.
Michael Suedfeld, lands manager for Skawahlook First Nation, expressed cautious optimism, noting the importance of continued government action on systemic issues like health care and housing.
Susie Hooper, Minister of Citizenship for Métis Nation British Columbia, welcomed the broader research focus, particularly in addressing barriers to career advancement and health-care access for Métis people.
Ongoing efforts
The provincial government introduced the Anti-Racism Data Act in 2022, following extensive consultations with Indigenous and racialized communities. The act requires identification of new research priorities every two years.
New research priorities for the next two years include health and wellness, education, housing, justice, economic inclusion, and sports, reflecting persistent systemic inequities experienced by Indigenous and racialized populations in British Columbia.
