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Immigrants
in the Hinterlands
Canadian Immigrant Labour Market: 2006
Analysis by region or country of birth
Immigrants born in
Southeast Asia, particularly those from the Philippines, had the strongest
labour market performance of all immigrants to Canada in 2006, regardless
of when they landed in the country. The study assessed the labour force
situation for immigrants at three stages: very recent immigrants, who had
landed between 2001 and 2006; recent immigrants, who had landed between
1996 and 2001; and established immigrants, who had been in Canada more
than 10 years.
The study found that in
2006, many very recent immigrants in the core working-age group (aged 25
to 54), regardless of their region of birth, had experienced more
difficulties in the labour market than the Canadian born. Among very
recent immigrants, only those born in Southeast Asia had unemployment
rates, employment rates and participation rates that were more or less on
par with the core working-age Canadian-born population. Those born
elsewhere in Asia (including the Middle East) as well as individuals born
in Latin America, Europe and Africa all had higher unemployment rates and
lower employment rates in 2006 than their Canadian-born counterparts.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Regardless of period of
landing, people born in Asia (including the Middle East) were the largest
group of immigrants that had settled in Canada as of 2006. Many were born
in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Philippines,
Iran or Pakistan. For all Asians aged 25 to 54, their employment rate was
much weaker than that of the Canadian born, especially among very recent
immigrants. Their employment rate was only 63.8%, compared with 83.1% for
their counterparts born in Canada.
Despite being a
declining proportion of immigrants aged 25 to 54, those born in Europe
still represented the second-largest source region of all immigrants in
2006. Many came from the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Portugal or
Romania. As with most other regions, very recent immigrants born in Europe
had a higher unemployment rate than the Canadian born. Their unemployment
rate was 8.4%, above the average rate of 4.9% for people born in Canada.
As with almost all other
regions, very recent immigrants of core working age born in Latin America
had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates in 2006 than did
the Canadian born.
No matter what period
they had landed, immigrants of core working age who were born in Africa
had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates compared with the
Canadian born and with immigrants born in some other regions.
In general, immigrant
men of core working age were more likely than their female counterparts to
be participating in the Canadian labour market.
Young very recent
immigrants aged 15 to 24 had unemployment rates in 2006 that were higher
and employment rates that were lower than their Canadian-born
counterparts, no matter in which region they were born.
The study also examined
older workers. In 2006, Canada had about 2.1 million immigrants aged 55
and over, the vast majority of whom (93%) were established immigrants. In
fact, most had landed in Canada before 1986. Most of these older
immigrants were born in two regions: Europe (59%) or Asia (25%).
Study:
Immigrants
in the hinterlands 1992 to 2005
By André Bernard
SUMMARY
The
distribution of the immigrant population in the urban and rural areas
differs vastly from the rest of the population. While approximately 34% of
Canadians 20 years of age or older live in one of the three largest urban
centres (Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver), nearly 75% of immigrants live
there. On the other hand, while a little more than one in five Canadians
lives in a small city or rural area with a population under 15,000, barely
one in forty immigrants lives there.
For
most Canadians, living in a large metropolitan area is usually synonymous
with having a higher income. This trend is the opposite for immigrants.
Immigrants' incomes are lowest (median of $16,800) in very large urban
areas and their incomes are highest ($19,500) in small urban areas, a
difference of 16%.
The
initial income gap between immigrants and the rest of the population is
37% for those living in very large urban areas. This gap decreases
gradually and rather slowly. This gap falls under the 10% mark as of the
twelfth year. On the other hand, in small urban areas, the initial gap is
only 14%, and as of the fourth year, the gap is reversed, with the income
of immigrants becoming 2% greater.
The
income gap was widest upon an immigrant's arrival. It declined over time
as individuals overcame such hurdles as lack of ability in official
languages, unrecognized foreign qualifications, and lack of information on
labour market requirements and employment opportunities. On average,
however, immigrants living in large urban centres experienced a slow
decline in this income gap. More vulnerable immigrant groups such as
refugees, immigrants with no prior ability in an official language or
immigrants with no more than a high school education also experienced more
rapid economic integration in small urban centres and rural areas.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Immigrants living in small urban centres and in rural areas tend to
achieve economic integration much faster than immigrants living in
large urban areas.
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The income gap between immigrants and Canadians living in similar
areas closed faster over time in smaller centres and rural areas than
in large cities.
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The income advantage of immigrants was even more pronounced in small
towns and rural areas, where the average income of immigrants was 4%
higher than that of Canadians.
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Although refugees represented only 5% of immigrants in small towns
and rural areas, they integrated very rapidly.
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In contrast, refugees in very large urban areas earned 43% less and,
after 13 years of residence, the gap was about 20%.
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Only immigrants from the United States (and to a lesser degree from
Oceania) integrated more quickly in larger centres than in smaller
ones.
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All other immigrants, especially those from Asia, integrated more
rapidly (in economic terms) in smaller cities.
[ Source: Statistics Canada]
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