A new study found that 58.6 per cent of Indigenous Canadians say they have experienced discrimination at their current job, while 56.2 per cent say they have played down their Indigenous identity in order to “fit in” at work.
ComIT.org is a registered charity that offers free training and professional development opportunities within the information technology sector. It conducted a survey of 500 people who identify as Indigenous Canadians to check the pulse of Indigenous people’s experiences with prejudice in the workplace, as well as concerns for Canadian Indigenous communities and individuals working in the IT sector.
Of those surveyed, 61.6 per cent say they feel they are less likely to receive a promotion based solely on their Indigenous identity, while 97.2% say there is a lack of representation of Indigenous people in executive positions in the tech Industry.
About 62 per cent of respondents say they have personally experienced bias while looking for work due to being Indigenous, while more than 52 per cent say they’ve “played down” their identity to secure employment.
More than 33 per cent of those surveyed say they do not list being Indigenous on their social media accounts.
“In recent years, significant attention has been devoted to addressing the connectivity infrastructure challenges faced by Indigenous communities in remote areas,” Pablo Listingart, founder and executive director of ComIT.org, said in a release.
“While this remains a crucial issue requiring attention in North America, our survey highlights a broader range of concerns perceived as more pressing by those who responded. These include the absence of remote job opportunities and remote education options, which are crucial for enabling people to remain in their communities and actively contribute to the well-being of those around them,” he added.
When it came to working in the digital field, 54 per cent of respondents say that a lack of access to education for financial reasons is the biggest barrier they experienced, while 52.2 per cent say that having to leave their community to find work, or a lack of remote jobs, is the biggest problem.
Just over 43 per cent say that their main problem is a lack of support from family to pursue that type of career, while 38.2 per cent say the biggest problem is a lack of access to remote alternatives of education.
Nearly one-third (31.8 per cent) of respondents point to a lack of reliable internet as the biggest issue.
When it comes to bias, 96 per cent of people believe there are “systematic biases” against Indigenous individuals in the Canadian IT job market, while 83 per cent believe that Indigenous people in the IT space likely face challenges that their non-Indigenous counterparts don’t have to contend with.
Meanwhile, a whopping 75 per cent of those surveyed say they believe stereotypes about Indigenous communities impact how Indigenous professionals’ capabilities are recognized in the IT sector.
SO, WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
The survey also asked respondents what they believe the Canadian government could do to encourage more Indigenous people to join the IT sector.
According to ComIT.org, many people surveyed say that creating a specific government department to encourage Indigenous Canadians to pursue careers in the IT sector is a good idea.
Some other responses included:
“The government can provide financial support to help Aboriginal people pay school fees and other related costs.”
“Nothing, it should be up to each person to decide what they want to do without being coerced. I prefer to earn my way without handouts and incentives as I am a proud person.”
“Continue supporting education for indigenous people, child, and adult… an overall approach including meals for kids and transportation for adults help with the small barriers. Workshops to show indigenous youth the earning potential.”
