As shown in Figure 8, in 1996, 22% of the workers in this sector were between the ages of 15 and 29 whereas 26% were found at the national level. The majority (64%) of the employees in this sector was in the 30-49 years old age bracket, while in the whole economy, there were only 55%. The older workforce may be due to the higher levels of education required in this field and the recruitment of experienced workers. (Source: Statistics Canada, Census 1996)