2.1 Definition

A. Refers to the highest level of education completed or attained.²

B. Education categories include for example, ‘no formal education or training, grades K-12, post-secondary, and other designations’.

2.2 Considerations and Limitations

Education can be used to understand:

• A person’s ability to attain a job or occupation and their potential income.³
• A person’s education that is in progress.
• A person’s set of skills that they acquired within their education.⁴

Education cannot be used to understand:

• Soft skills that are not highlighted in their credentials.⁵
• A person’s future career prospects or goals.⁶
• A person’s ability to work efficiently in the labour force, as the highest completed education level may not accurately reflect what they can do.⁷
• Other achievements or completed training.⁸

2.3 Suggested Collection Methods

The minimum suggested data collection method, or “basic” option below reflects a synthesis of practices, considerations from nonprofit stakeholders, and recognized standards in capturing demographic data. The “basic” question is modeled after what might be asked on an intake form during an initial meeting with a client. The process by which intake or registration occurs can vary widely depending on the context within which you are working. For example, the way questions are asked and data are recorded will vary for clients in crises, as compared to walk-in or drop-in sessions, or when registering for a program that requires people to meet certain eligibility requirements. In those cases, the suggested collection method can be used as a starting point but adapted to fit the needs of the context within which the data are being collected.

As a standard practice we suggest always including an option for people to write in an answer that may not fit within the options provided, along with an option not to answer. These are both important for creating inclusive demographic questions.^{1, 9, 10}

2.3.1 Basic Question(s)