Youth in Transition Survey (for 15-year-olds)

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What is the Youth in Transition Survey?

The Youth in Transition Survey (YITS) collects information from youth about their schooling and their work force experiences. Results will provide a better understanding of the challenges and problems youth face as they make the transition from school to work or as they continue their education. The same group of youth will be interviewed every two years in order to have transition data over a number of years.

In Canada, YITS is being carried out through a partnership of the following organizations: Human Resources Development Canada, Statistics Canada, and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). All ten provinces are participating.

Who is surveyed?

The Youth in Transition Survey is conducted for 15-year-old students.

In April and May, about 30,000 students from all ten provinces will complete the Youth in Transition Survey and participate in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) at school.

Now in the second cycle of its administration, PISA is an international study conducted in 32 countries by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It measures the abilities of these same 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics, and science.

As well, parents of students aged 15 taking part in the Youth in Transition Survey are asked to participate in a short telephone interview to collect their views on their child's schooling and to provide family background information.

How were the students selected?

About 1,200 schools across Canada are randomly selected to participate in PISA and YITS. In these schools, a random selection is then made of 15-year-old students.

Is the information provided confidential?

Under the authority of the Statistics Act, information obtained or collected by Statistics Canada will be kept strictly confidential. When results are available, Statistics Canada is forbidden to release information that identifies any person or his or her household.

What type of information does the survey collect?

The Youth in Transition Survey for 15-year-olds will complement the information collected in PISA. Information collected includes the student's school experiences, activities, achievements, aspirations and expectations, and employment history.

How is the information used?

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) is developing the survey in partnership with Statistics Canada and CMEC in order to have information to help in policy and program development. Other users of the results include educators, social policy analysts, and advocacy groups.

These researchers and analysts will have access to important information that can be used in developing programs to deal with both short-term and long-term problems or barriers that youth may face in their pursuit of higher education or in gaining work experience. Information from the survey will help to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and practices, to determine the most appropriate age at which to introduce programs, and to better target programs for those most in need.

Young adults themselves will be able to see the impact of decisions related to education or work experiences. They will be able to see how their own experiences compare to those of other young adults.

How do I find survey results?

Initial survey results were released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Programme for International Student Assessment in December 2001.

If I want more information about the survey, where can I find it?

Contact the Statistics Canada regional office nearest you or Human Resources Development Canada.