Student Spotlight: Income Evolution in New Brunswick

Author: NB-IRDT Staff

Posted on 03 May 2021

From May to August 2020, NB-IRDT hosted the very first Pathways to Professions: an experiential learning program that provided six UNB students with hands-on workplace experience and training in research methods and job readiness. Each month, our Student Spotlight series will highlight some of the students’ research findings on the population demographics and economic progress of New Brunswick.

Some New Brunswickers are more vulnerable to social, educational, and health issues than others – and low income is a significant factor contributing to their vulnerability. Policies and programs targeting low-income groups could help reduce vulnerability going forward, but how do we know which NB populations to target?

This summer, Pathways to Professions student Madeleine Gorman-Asal examined income evolution across population segments in NB. As part of the PopNB initiative to characterize the province’s population, she quantified labour market outcomes in terms of the economic success of various groups to demonstrate which groups are the province’s most vulnerable, as well as possible explanations that can be used to inform policy decisions.

Read the report

Meet the Researcher

Madeleine Gorman-Asal lives in her hometown of Fredericton and is enrolled in the Biology-Mathematics/Statistics program at UNB. She is interested in using data analysis to inform public policy and affect positive community change, and she credits Pathways to Professions with providing her the opportunity to gain an understanding of research from industry and government perspectives.

Interested in becoming involved with Pathways to Professions? Email nb-irdttraining@unb.ca to learn how.