IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2023: Immigrant Outcomes

Introduction to IRCC - July 2023

Outline

Canada received a record inflow of over 400 000 new permanent migrants, more than double the inflow in 2020. This makes Canada the third largest receiving country after the United States and Germany.

OECD, International Migration Outlook 2022

Key Takeaways

Immigrant Outcomes in the Canadian Labour Market

  Employment Rate, age 25-54
Canadian-born 80
Men+ 82
Women+ 78
Immigrants 75.5
Men+ 82.8
Women+ 69.1
  Participation Rate, age 25-54
Canadian-born 86.6
Men+ 88.9
Women+ 84.3
Immigrants 83.8
Men+ 90.2
Women+ 78.2
  Unemployment Rate, age 25-54
Canadian-born 7.7
Men+ 7.8
Women+ 7.5
Immigrants 9.9
Men+ 8.2
Women+ 11.6

Source: 2021 Census Table: 98-10-0446-01

Median Entry-year Earnings

Median entry-year earnings by immigration category (in 2020 constant dollars)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Economic immigrant, principal applicant $28,700 $29,800 $32,000 $33,500 $36,000 $36,900 $39,900 $42,400 $43,900 $42,600
Skilled worker and skilled trades, principal applicant $25,900 $25,500 $25,600 $27,300 $28,000 $33,600 $39,600 $37,800 $42,400 $39,800
Canadian experience class, principal applicant $51,900 $52,500 $52,800 $55,700 $57,100 $56,100 $55,100 $57,500 $59,500 $59,300
Provincial/territorial nominee, principal applicant $38,400 $37,800 $38,800 $41,000 $40,000 $39,500 $40,600 $41,900 $42,400 $38,800
Economic immigrant, spouse and dependent $17,500 $19,200 $19,500 $19,600 $21,200 $23,100 $23,900 $26,100 $27,800 $25,200
Sponsored family $17,900 $18,400 $18,300 $18,400 $19,900 $20,800 $21,600 $24,600 $24,700 $21,400
Refugee $16,500 $17,000 $18,100 $18,100 $17,700 $16,200 $16,000 $18,800 $19,400 $17,100
All immigrants $21,900 $22,600 $23,400 $23,900 $26,500 $27,000 $27,300 $30,900 $32,100 $30,000

Source: Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB), 2021

Note: IMDB analysis includes immigrant tax-filers who are 15 and over. 

* entry-year earnings refer to the first full year of wages, salaries & commissions since year of admission

Immigrant Earnings Over Time

2020 Median Wages, Salaries & Commissions by Admission Cohort Year

Canadian median employment earnings, 2021 constant dollars $41,600 CPI 2020 CPI 2021
Canadian average employment earnings, adjusted to 2020 $40,248.59 137 141.6
Economic immigrant, principal applicant Economic immigrant, spouse and dependent Canadian experience class, principal applicant Skilled worker, principal applicant Provincial/territorial nominee, principal applicant Refugee Sponsored family All immigrants Canadian average* (2020 constant dollar)
2010 $54,800 $28,600 $80,100 $60,600 $52,800 $25,600 $31,800 $37,500 $40,249
2011 $52,700 $27,700 $74,300 $57,000 $51,000 $25,600 $31,000 $36,300 $40,249
2012 $53,300 $27,500 $73,400 $55,700 $51,100 $24,600 $29,000 $36,000 $40,249
2013 $52,000 $26,400 $75,000 $53,700 $53,300 $23,400 $27,500 $35,200 $40,249
2014 $50,500 $26,900 $72,000 $52,900 $50,600 $21,900 $28,100 $36,000 $40,249
2015 $51,400 $27,500 $69,300 $58,500 $49,800 $20,100 $27,000 $35,200 $40,249
2016 $51,700 $27,300 $64,800 $57,700 $49,500 $17,500 $26,200 $33,300 $40,249
2017 $51,400 $27,900 $67,100 $52,300 $49,800 $18,800 $25,900 $34,800 $40,249
2018 $49,500 $28,500 $65,200 $51,400 $45,600 $18,400 $24,200 $34,400 $40,249
2019 $42,600 $25,200 $59,300 $39,800 $38,800 $17,100 $21,400 $30,000 $40,249

Source: Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB), 2021; Statistics Canada Table: 11-10-0239-01

* Canadian average includes immigrant population

Note: IMDB analysis includes immigrant tax-filers who are 15 and over. 

Use of Social Assistance

Incidence Of Social Assistance By Immigration Category And Years Since Landing (Tax Year 2020)

1 year since landing 5 years since landing 10 years since landing Canadian average* (2020)
Economic immigrant, principal applicant 2% 1% 2% 8%
Economic immigrant, spouse and dependent 2% 2% 2% 8%
Sponsored family 3% 4% 9% 8%
Refugee 36% 31% 25% 8%
All Immigrants 7% 6% 6% 8%

Source: Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB), 2021; Statistics Canada Table: 11-10-0239-01

* Canadian average includes immigrant population

Note: IMDB analysis includes immigrant tax-filers who are 15 and over. 

Civic Engagement and Sense of Belonging 2020

Are immigrants civically engaged?

Voted in Last Federal Election by Population Group and Immigration Status, 2020

Immigrant Canadian-Born
White 71% 87%
Black 58% 70%
South Asian 67% 83%
Chinese 58% 78%
Other visible minority 58% 70%

Do immigrants feel a strong sense of belonging to Canada?

Sense of Belonging by Population Group and Immigration Status, 2020

Immigrant Canadian-Born
White 58% 48%
Black 67% 35%
South Asian 69% 57%
Chinese 33% 37%
Other visible minority 61% 42%

Source: 2020 General Social Survey

Life Satisfaction and Trust

Are immigrants satisfied with life?

Life Satisfaction by Population Group and Immigration Status, 2020

Immigrant Canadian-Born
White 59% 55%
Black 56% 40%
South Asian 60% 47%
Chinese 56% 37%
Other visible minority 58% 40%

How much trust do immigrants generally feel towards others?

Generalized Trust in Others by Population group and Immigration Status, 2020

Immigrant Canadian-Born
White 63% 55%
Black 38% 29%
South Asian 63% 45%
Chinese 76% 66%
Other visible minority 51% 43%

Source: General Social Survey, 2013, 2020

Citizenship Take-up Rate

Citizenship take-up rate for immigrants who landed in Canada after 1980 with 3+ years since landing, by immigration category, 2021

Total immigrants 77.2%
Economic class 77.8%
Economic PA 76.9%
Economic SD 78.4%
Family class 73.1%
Refugee 83.2%

Source: 2021 Census

Children of Immigrants

* 1.5 generation refers to immigrants who arrive in Canada under the age of 15

University completion rate (age 25-54), by generation status

Third generation or more 27%
Second generation 40%
1.5 generation 51%

Source: 2021 Census

Impacts of Immigration on Canada

Demographic

Economic

Fiscal

Impact of COVID-19 – Three Years Later

Unemployment rate among immigrants and Canadian-born, aged 25-54

Janv.20 Mars 20 Mai 20 Juil. 20 Sept. 20 Janv. 21 Mars 21 Mai 21 Juil. 21 Sept. 21 Janv. 22 Mars 22 Mai 22 Juil. 22 Sept. 22 Janv. 23 Mars 23
Very Recent immigrants 10% 10% 16% 17% 13% 10% 10% 10% 9% 8% 8% 8% 8% 7% 8% 8% 8%
Establised immigrants 5% 7% 13% 13% 10% 9% 10% 9% 10% 10% 6% 6% 5% 5% 5% 4% 5%
Recent immigrants 5% 6% 11% 11% 9% 9% 9% 8% 7% 7% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 4% 4%
Born in Canada 4% 5% 9% 9% 7% 6% 7% 6% 6% 6% 4% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%

Employment rate among immigrants and Canadian-born, aged 25-54

Janv. 20 Mars 20 Mai 20 Juil. 20 Sept. 20 Janv. 21 Mars 21 Mai 21 Juil. 21 Sept. 21 Janv. 22 Mars 22 Mai 22 Juil. 22 Sept. 22 Janv. 23 Mars 23
Very Recent immigrants 72% 71% 64% 65% 70% 74% 73% 74% 76% 77% 79% 77% 78% 80% 79% 78% 77%
Establised immigrants 81% 77% 69% 71% 75% 77% 77% 77% 76% 76% 80% 81% 81% 82% 81% 83% 82%
Recent immigrants 83% 81% 73% 74% 78% 80% 79% 80% 80% 81% 84% 84% 84% 83% 84% 85% 85%
Born in Canada 85% 84% 78% 80% 82% 83% 83% 83% 84% 84% 85% 85% 87% 87% 86% 86% 86%

Source: Labour Force Survey. Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0082-01

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2023-11-23