Recent Immigrants in Metropolitan Areas: Edmonton—A Comparative Profile Based on the 2001 Census
Part E: Income
Sources and level of income
Sources of income vary by time in Canada
Seven in ten Canadian-born women and eight in ten Canadian-born men had earnings from employment in the year 2000. A larger share of the Canadian-born than of immigrants as a whole had income from employment, although the share of recent immigrants with employment income was very close to the share of the Canadian-born.
No income | Employment income | Other private income | Government transfers | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | 6,510 | 211,060 | 91,780 | 274,440 | 291,950 |
Immigrants | 750 | 49,380 | 24,920 | 76,570 | 79,280 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 180 | 29,520 | 19,150 | 49,050 | 50,420 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 410 | 15,500 | 4,610 | 21,340 | 22,400 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 160 | 4,370 | 1,160 | 6,180 | 6,470 |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | 6,360 | 235,540 | 75,780 | 265,970 | 286,130 |
Immigrants | 580 | 55,230 | 22,640 | 71,070 | 74,140 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 30 | 35,650 | 18,410 | 47,860 | 49,640 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 410 | 15,070 | 3,240 | 17,780 | 18,790 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 140 | 4,520 | 990 | 5,440 | 5,720 |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | 12,870 | 446,600 | 167,570 | 540,400 | 578,070 |
Immigrants | 1,320 | 104,590 | 47,560 | 147,620 | 153,440 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 200 | 65,160 | 37,560 | 96,890 | 100,060 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 820 | 30,560 | 7,860 | 39,120 | 41,190 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 300 | 8,880 | 2,150 | 11,620 | 12,190 |
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | 2% | 72% | 31% | 94% | 100% |
Immigrants | 1% | 62% | 31% | 97% | 100% |
Immigrated before 1986 | 0% | 59% | 38% | 97% | 100% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 2% | 69% | 21% | 95% | 100% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 2% | 68% | 18% | 96% | 100% |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | 2% | 82% | 26% | 93% | 100% |
Immigrants | 1% | 74% | 31% | 96% | 100% |
Immigrated before 1986 | 0% | 72% | 37% | 96% | 100% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 2% | 80% | 17% | 95% | 100% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 2% | 79% | 17% | 95% | 100% |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | 2% | 77% | 29% | 93% | 100% |
Immigrants | 1% | 68% | 31% | 96% | 100% |
Immigrated before 1986 | 0% | 65% | 38% | 97% | 100% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 2% | 74% | 19% | 95% | 100% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 2% | 73% | 18% | 95% | 100% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year. A person may have income from one, two or all three sources. The three sources are defined in the Glossary.
The share of persons with employment income was higher in 2000 than in 1995, except for women who immigrated before 1986. It increased by about two percentage points for the Canadian-born, by three percentage points for immigrants who had been in the country between 5 and 15 years and by eight percentage points for very recent immigrants.
The incidence of zero income is extremely low for all immigrant cohorts and the Canadian-born. This is because almost everyone receives transfer payments from the government.
Recent immigrants are much less likely to have other private income—for example, income from investments or pension plans—in comparison to the Canadian-born and earlier immigrants.
About 95% of immigrants and the Canadian-born received transfer payments from government in the year 2000. The almost universal presence of transfer payments is specific to the province of Alberta. It may reflect the “Alberta advantage” initiatives implemented by the provincial government, including an increase in family tax benefits, energy cost rebates and special educational programs for Employment Insurance recipients, trades people and immigrant women.
Average income increases with length of stay
Considering only persons who reported income in the year 2000, the average income of immigrants was lower than that of the Canadian-born. Those who immigrated before 1986 had average incomes slightly higher than the Canadian-born. For very recent immigrants, average income was 62% of that of the Canadian-born. Those who immigrated during the 1986-1995 period had an average income of 71% the income of the Canadian-born.
Compared to 1995, average income of very recent immigrants increased more than that of other groups, by nearly one-third for women and nearly one-half for men. For other groups, the change was in the order of one-fifth for men and somewhat less for women.
In all groups, the average income of women is about three-fifths the income of men.
Earnings from employment account for the bulk of income of all groups and make up the same proportion of income of recent immigrants as of persons born in Canada for women and a higher proportion for men. Since 1995, the employment share of income has increased by nine percentage points for very recent immigrant men, while the increase for other groups was only two percentage points. However, women who immigrated between six and fifteen years before the census derived a smaller share of income from employment than in 1995.
The share of other private income is lower for recent immigrants than for the Canadian-born, while transfer payments from government make up a slightly larger share of the income of recent immigrants than the income of the Canadian-born. The share of other private income was approximately the same in 2000 as in 1995 for all groups, except for very recently immigrants who experienced a decrease of three percentage points. The share of government transfer payments in 2000 was six percentage points lower for very recent immigrant men. By contrast, recent immigrant women derived a somewhat larger share of their income from transfer payments in 2000 than in 1995.
Sources of average income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average income of persons with income | Employment income | Other private income | Government transfers | Total | |
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | $22,970 | 76% | 10% | 14% | 100% |
Immigrants | $20,890 | 68% | 12% | 20% | 100% |
Immigrated before 1986 | $23,450 | 65% | 14% | 21% | 100% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | $16,900 | 75% | 7% | 18% | 100% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | $14,320 | 75% | 7% | 18% | 100% |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | $39,690 | 85% | 9% | 6% | 100% |
Immigrants | $36,350 | 80% | 10% | 10% | 100% |
Immigrated before 1986 | $40,820 | 77% | 12% | 11% | 100% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | $27,790 | 88% | 5% | 8% | 100% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | $24,790 | 88% | 4% | 8% | 100% |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | $31,250 | 82% | 9% | 9% | 100% |
Immigrants | $28,360 | 75% | 11% | 14% | 100% |
Immigrated before 1986 | $32,080 | 73% | 13% | 15% | 100% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | $21,860 | 82% | 6% | 12% | 100% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | $19,230 | 83% | 5% | 12% | 100% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year.
Earnings of recent immigrants who worked mostly full-time lower than average
The wages and salaries earned by recent immigrants who worked mostly full-time in 2000 are below the Edmonton average. By contrast, earlier immigrants had higher average wages and salaries than both the Edmonton average and the Canadian-born.
Amount | Percentage of overall average | |
---|---|---|
Canadian-born | $39,070 | 102% |
Immigrants | $36,060 | 94% |
Immigrated before 1986 | $40,670 | 106% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | $28,500 | 74% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | $26,440 | 69% |
All who worked mostly full-time | $38,490 | 100% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year.
The relative level of wages and salaries of very recent immigrants in Edmonton, at 69% of the average, was higher than in 1995 by 15 percentage points. Those who had been in the country from 5 to 15 years, however, had a lower relative earnings level than their counterparts of five years earlier.
Transfer payments a larger share of household income of non-seniors
In the year 2000, virtually all households in Calgary received transfer payments from government. The payments received by recent immigrant households were somewhat higher than those going to Canadian-born and earlier immigrant households, both in dollar terms and relative to income.
Transfer payments vary considerably with the age of the oldest person in the household, and so do differences between recent immigrant, earlier immigrant and Canadian-born households. Recent immigrant households of the very young receive somewhat less than their Canadian-born and earlier immigrant counterparts, while households of persons aged 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 receive substantially larger amounts.
15 to 24 years | 25 to 44 years | 45 to 65 years | 65 years and over | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Share of households receiving government transfer payments | |||||
Canadian-born households | 99% | 100% | 99% | 100% | 100% |
Earlier immigrant households | 101% | 100% | 99% | 100% | 100% |
Recent immigrant households | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
1986-1995 immigrants | 98% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
1996-1999 immigrants with others | 100% | 99% | 100% | 98% | 100% |
1996-1999 immigrants only | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Average amount of transfer per receiving household | |||||
Canadian-born households | $2,300 | $3,110 | $3,520 | $17,630 | $5,540 |
Earlier immigrant households | $2,100 | $3,850 | $4,080 | $18,600 | $8,490 |
Recent immigrant households | $1,580 | $4,580 | $4,960 | $18,420 | $6,080 |
1986-1995 immigrants | $1,520 | $4,510 | $4,610 | $18,530 | $6,100 |
1996-1999 immigrants with others | $1,390 | $4,850 | $7,540 | $19,700 | $7,080 |
1996-1999 immigrants only | $2,020 | $4,580 | $4,730 | $11,830 | $4,780 |
Transfers as a share of income, all households | |||||
Canadian-born households | 8% | 5% | 5% | 39% | 9% |
Earlier immigrant households | 7% | 6% | 5% | 41% | 13% |
Recent immigrant households | 6% | 9% | 8% | 33% | 11% |
1986-1995 immigrants | 6% | 8% | 7% | 34% | 11% |
1996-1999 immigrants with others | 3% | 8% | 11% | 30% | 11% |
1996-1999 immigrants only | 13% | 12% | 10% | 30% | 12% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year.
Transfer payments to households without seniors generally reflect benefits of Employment Insurance, Workers Compensation, social assistance, student assistance or other programs. Included in these transfer payments are tax credits such as the Canada Child Benefit, GST tax credits and tax credits from the Government of Alberta. The larger amounts of transfer payments for recent immigrant households of persons of 25 to 64 years old may have to do with the larger average number of children in families and with differences in labour market participation and unemployment reviewed in Part D. That transfer payments from government make up a larger part of income than for their Canadian-born and earlier immigrant counterparts also reflects their lower incomes.
Almost all households with persons of 65 years of age and over received transfer payments from government: Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, or Canada or Quebec Pension Plan benefits. Recent immigrant households of seniors on average received somewhat more than Canadian-born households, but households consisting only of very recent immigrants received much less. Very recent immigrants are not entitled to Old Age Security and have not built up large credits under the Canada or Quebec Pension Plan.
The distribution of income
Personal income well below parity
Of very recent immigrants, close to one-half of women and three in ten men reported no income or income below $10,000 in 2000.
At the high end of the income scale, recent immigrants are underrepresented. The share of recent immigrant men with incomes of $50,000 and over is two-fifths the share of Canadian-born men with the same income, while the share of recent immigrant women with incomes of $50,000 and over is about one-third the share of Canadian-born women in the same category. The proportion with incomes of $50,000 and over is the same among earlier immigrants and the Canadian-born.
Without income |
$1 to $9,999 |
$10,000 to $29,999 | $30,000 to $49,999 | $50,000 and over | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | ||||||
Canadian-born | 6,510 | 84,940 | 116,150 | 57,640 | 26,710 | 291,950 |
Immigrants | 740 | 22,430 | 38,450 | 12,360 | 5,290 | 79,280 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 170 | 11,110 | 25,690 | 9,100 | 4,360 | 50,410 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 410 | 8,380 | 10,180 | 2,640 | 780 | 22,410 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 160 | 2,950 | 2,580 | 620 | 160 | 6,470 |
Men | ||||||
Canadian-born | 6,350 | 50,650 | 75,630 | 73,540 | 79,950 | 286,130 |
Immigrants | 580 | 11,250 | 26,370 | 18,330 | 17,650 | 74,150 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 30 | 5,150 | 17,060 | 13,050 | 14,380 | 49,640 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 410 | 4,500 | 7,040 | 4,140 | 2,710 | 18,790 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 140 | 1,610 | 2,270 | 1,150 | 560 | 5,730 |
Total | ||||||
Canadian-born | 12,870 | 135,590 | 191,780 | 131,180 | 106,660 | 578,070 |
Immigrants | 1,320 | 33,690 | 64,800 | 30,690 | 22,940 | 153,440 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 210 | 16,250 | 42,740 | 22,150 | 18,720 | 100,060 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 820 | 12,890 | 17,220 | 6,780 | 3,500 | 41,190 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 300 | 4,560 | 4,850 | 1,770 | 720 | 12,190 |
Without income |
$1 to $9,999 |
$10,000 to $29,999 | $30,000 to $49,999 | $50,000 and over | Total | Average income | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | |||||||
Canadian-born | 2% | 29% | 40% | 20% | 9% | 100% | $22,460 |
Immigrants | 1% | 28% | 48% | 16% | 7% | 100% | $20,690 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 0% | 22% | 51% | 18% | 9% | 100% | $23,371 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 2% | 37% | 45% | 12% | 3% | 100% | $16,596 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 2% | 46% | 40% | 10% | 2% | 100% | $13,974 |
Men | |||||||
Canadian-born | 2% | 18% | 26% | 26% | 28% | 100% | $38,810 |
Immigrants | 1% | 15% | 36% | 25% | 24% | 100% | $36,061 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 0% | 10% | 34% | 26% | 29% | 100% | $40,791 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 2% | 24% | 37% | 22% | 14% | 100% | $27,190 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 2% | 28% | 40% | 20% | 10% | 100% | $24,161 |
Total | |||||||
Canadian-born | 2% | 23% | 33% | 23% | 18% | 100% | $30,553 |
Immigrants | 1% | 22% | 42% | 20% | 15% | 100% | $28,121 |
Immigrated before 1986 | 0% | 16% | 43% | 22% | 19% | 100% | $32,014 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 2% | 31% | 42% | 16% | 8% | 100% | $21,429 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 2% | 37% | 40% | 14% | 6% | 100% | $18,766 |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year.
Household income close to parity except for very recent immigrants
In 2000, recent immigrant households had average income of $57,700, or 94% of the income of Canadian-born households. The income of households consisting only of very recent immigrants was 67% of the income of households of the Canadian-born.
Households | $0 to $19,999 | $20,000 to $39,999 | $40,000 to $59,999 | $60,000 to $79,999 | $80,000 and over | Total | Average income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadian-born | 42,210 | 56,470 | 53,010 | 42,510 | 67,520 | 261,690 | $61,690 |
16% | 22% | 20% | 16% | 26% | 100% | ||
Earlier immigrants | 8,850 | 13,280 | 11,790 | 10,180 | 19,160 | 63,250 | $66,100 |
14% | 21% | 19% | 16% | 30% | 100% | ||
Recent immigrants | 4,290 | 6,120 | 6,120 | 4,480 | 5,880 | 26,900 | $57,740 |
18% | 23% | 22% | 16% | 21% | 100% | ||
1986-1995 immigrants | 2,970 | 4,250 | 4,530 | 3,330 | 4,650 | 19,710 | $59,370 |
15% | 22% | 23% | 17% | 24% | 100% | ||
1996-1999 immigrants with others | 340 | 880 | 900 | 800 | 970 | 3,890 | $63,320 |
12% | 23% | 22% | 19% | 23% | 100% | ||
1996-1999 immigrants only | 980 | 1,000 | 700 | 360 | 270 | 3,300 | $41,440 |
38% | 29% | 17% | 9% | 6% | 100% | ||
All households | 57,380 | 76,940 | 71,590 | 57,560 | 93,070 | 356,520 | $61,820 |
16% | 22% | 20% | 16% | 26% | 100% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year. The total “All households” includes households of non-permanent residents not shown in the table. For definitions of household and related concepts, see the Glossary.
Thirty percent of households consisting of only very recent immigrants have income of less than $20,000, in spite of their large size. The relatively high income of households that combine very recent immigrants with other persons may be a result of their large size and the fact that the other members of the household have lived in Canada for more than five years and are more likely to be earners.
Low income twice as common among very recent immigrants
Recent immigrants are more likely than earlier immigrants and the Canadian-born to live in families with incomes that fall below the median family income or, if they do not live in families, to have income below the median for unattached individuals. They are also more likely to have or live in families with incomes that fall below one-half of the median income—that is, to have low income. The percentage of immigrants with income in the bottom half or quarter of the income distribution declines in relation to the length of stay in Canada of the cohort.
Figure E-1: Immigrants by period of immigration and Canadian-born—percentage with family or individual income below the median and below one-half of the median, Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area, 2000
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all figures in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year. For a definition of median income and details about the calculations, see the Glossary.
The share of very recent immigrants whose family or individual income is below one-half of the median income is nearly twice as large as that of the Canadian-born. The proportion of very recent immigrants with income below the median is also much higher, with two out of three very recent immigrants in this situation. Although earlier immigrant households have higher average income than Canadian-born households (Table E-6), a slightly larger proportion of earlier immigrants have income below the median.
Under 15 years | 15 to 24 years | 25 to 64 years | 65 years and over | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | 43,700 | 30,570 | 82,660 | 22,960 | 179,880 |
Immigrants | 1,760 | 3,850 | 27,100 | 10,880 | 43,600 |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 730 | 14,570 | 9,700 | 25,000 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 860 | 2,270 | 9,300 | 1,030 | 13,460 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 900 | 850 | 3,230 | 150 | 5,140 |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | 46,120 | 26,920 | 70,270 | 17,240 | 160,510 |
Immigrants | 2,000 | 3,480 | 23,230 | 9,150 | 37,820 |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 630 | 13,230 | 8,180 | 22,010 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 940 | 2,100 | 7,040 | 830 | 10,890 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 1,070 | 760 | 2,960 | 140 | 4,930 |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | 89,820 | 57,480 | 152,920 | 40,190 | 340,390 |
Immigrants | 3,760 | 7,330 | 50,320 | 20,020 | 81,410 |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 1,350 | 27,800 | 17,880 | 47,000 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 1,800 | 4,370 | 16,340 | 1,860 | 24,350 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 1,960 | 1,610 | 6,190 | 290 | 10,070 |
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | 50% | 50% | 42% | 67% | 48% |
Immigrants | 63% | 57% | 48% | 66% | 53% |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 49% | 42% | 68% | 50% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 61% | 58% | 57% | 49% | 57% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 65% | 65% | 66% | 51% | 66% |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | 51% | 42% | 36% | 65% | 43% |
Immigrants | 65% | 54% | 43% | 66% | 49% |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 40% | 37% | 68% | 44% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 60% | 55% | 53% | 54% | 54% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 71% | 71% | 67% | 59% | 68% |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | 51% | 46% | 39% | 66% | 45% |
Immigrants | 64% | 56% | 46% | 66% | 51% |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 44% | 39% | 68% | 47% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 60% | 56% | 55% | 51% | 55% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 69% | 68% | 67% | 54% | 67% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year. For a definition of median income and details about the calculations, see the Glossary.
The proportion of individuals with income below the median varies with age and to a lesser extent gender. For the Canadian-born and earlier immigrants, the highest proportion of incomes below the median is found among seniors. But this is not so for very recent immigrants, among whom incomes below the median are more common for younger age groups. Persons who immigrated during the 1986-1995 period occupy a middle ground.
In all age and gender groups except women and men of 65 years of age and over, the proportion of persons with income below the overall median is higher among recent immigrants than among the Canadian-born. This difference is most pronounced for people 25 to 64 years of age.
Under 15 years |
15 to 24 years | 25 to 64 years | 65 years and over | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | 15,430 | 13,000 | 27,530 | 4,900 | 60,860 |
Immigrants | 730 | 1,560 | 9,230 | 2,710 | 14,220 |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 260 | 4,760 | 2,370 | 7,380 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 340 | 910 | 3,070 | 290 | 4,610 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 390 | 390 | 1,400 | 60 | 2,230 |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | 15,200 | 10,090 | 19,970 | 5,260 | 50,520 |
Immigrants | 790 | 1,500 | 7,430 | 3,240 | 12,960 |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 260 | 3,940 | 2,850 | 7,060 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 350 | 850 | 2,300 | 350 | 3,840 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 450 | 390 | 1,200 | 40 | 2,070 |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | 30,630 | 23,080 | 47,500 | 10,160 | 111,380 |
Immigrants | 1,520 | 3,050 | 16,650 | 5,950 | 27,180 |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 520 | 8,700 | 5,220 | 14,440 |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 690 | 1,760 | 5,370 | 630 | 8,450 |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 830 | 780 | 2,590 | 100 | 4,300 |
Women | |||||
Canadian-born | 18% | 21% | 14% | 14% | 16% |
Immigrants | 26% | 23% | 17% | 16% | 17% |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 18% | 14% | 17% | 15% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 24% | 23% | 19% | 14% | 19% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 28% | 30% | 29% | 20% | 28% |
Men | |||||
Canadian-born | 17% | 16% | 10% | 20% | 13% |
Immigrants | 26% | 23% | 14% | 23% | 17% |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 16% | 11% | 24% | 14% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 22% | 22% | 17% | 22% | 19% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 30% | 36% | 27% | 17% | 29% |
Total | |||||
Canadian-born | 17% | 18% | 12% | 17% | 15% |
Immigrants | 26% | 23% | 15% | 20% | 17% |
Immigrated before 1986 | – | 17% | 12% | 20% | 14% |
Immigrated 1986-1995 | 23% | 23% | 18% | 17% | 19% |
Immigrated 1996-1999 | 29% | 33% | 28% | 19% | 29% |
Note: Incomes are for the year 2000. In all tables in Part E, immigrants and very recent immigrants include only those who landed before the year 2000 and could have had income the entire year. For a definition of median income and details about the calculations, see the Glossary.
Nearly three out of ten immigrants who landed between 1996 and 1999 have low incomes or live in families with low income—that is, income below one-half of the median. This share is twice as large as for the Canadian-born. The gap between very recent immigrants and the Canadian-born is smaller for seniors than for any other age group.
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