Immigrants to Canada: Income trajectories and regions of settlement, 1987 to 2017

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Release date: March 22, 2021
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Infographic: Immigrants to Canada: Income trajectories and regions of settlement, 1987 to 2017
Description: Immigrants to Canada: Income trajectories and regions of settlement, 1987 to 2017

Immigrants to Canada: Income trajectories and regions of settlement, 1987 to 2017

Immigrants earn more as they gain experience in Canada

Immigrants admitted in 1997 saw their median wages increase by 40% between their first and fifth years after admission to Canada. For all categories of immigrants, their median wages had more than doubled 16 years after admission.


Median wages of immigrants admitted in 1997 from 1998 to 2018
Table summary
This table displays the results of Median wages of immigrants admitted in 1997 from 1998 to 2018 Economic immigrant, Sponsored by family and Refugee (appearing as column headers).
Economic immigrant Sponsored by family Refugee
Years since admission Dollars
1 20,800 15,900 13,200
2 24,800 18,600 16,800
3 27,900 20,600 18,900
4 29,300 21,200 19,700
5 29,600 21,900 20,500
6 29,700 22,400 21,000
7 30,700 23,600 21,500
8 31,700 24,400 23,100
9 33,100 26,000 24,100
10 35,100 28,000 25,400
11 36,300 29,100 26,500
12 37,200 29,000 26,200
13 37,900 30,500 27,400
14 38,600 31,400 28,200
15 39,700 32,600 29,700
16 41,400 33,300 30,900
17 42,600 34,000 31,900
18 43,900 35,000 33,700
19 45,500 36,000 35,000
20 47,800 37,100 36,800
21 49,700 38,400 38,400

The entry wages of economic immigrants have risen 26% in 30 years 

Median entry wages (income one year after admission to Canada) increased for all categories of immigrants.


Median entry wages by admission year
Table summary
This table displays the results of Median entry wages by admission year Economic immigrant, Sponsored by family and Refugee (appearing as column headers).
Economic immigrant Sponsored by family Refugee
Admission year Dollars
1987 27,900 19,000 19,000
1997 20,800 15,900 13,200
2007 24,000 18,800 15,700
2017 35,100 24,000 18,300

Immigrants settle mostly in Canada’s three largest CMAs, but the trend is changing

In the 1990s, about 4 in 10 immigrants settled in Toronto, but by the end of the 2010s, it was 3 in 10. More immigrants are settling outside the three largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs).


Immigrants settlement area by admission year
Table summary
This table displays the results of Immigrants settlement area by admission year Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver and Other regions (appearing as column headers).
Montréal Toronto Vancouver Other regions
Admission year Percentages
1987 15.9 41.8 9.6 32.7
1989 15.8 40.1 10.8 33.3
1991 20.3 37.9 11.6 30.1
1993 15.8 41.6 15.1 27.5
1995 10.5 44.9 18.4 26.1
1997 11.1 45.8 20.1 23.0
1999 13.2 44.5 17.1 25.2
2001 13.1 50.0 13.7 23.3
2003 15.3 44.1 13.9 26.7
2005 14.2 43.0 15.1 27.7
2007 16.4 36.8 13.9 32.9
2009 16.9 32.8 13.9 36.4
2011 18.1 31.2 11.6 39.1
2013 17.0 31.5 11.4 40.1
2015 15.4 30.2 10.4 44.0
2017 15.7 30.2 10.4 43.8

Source: Statistics Canada, 2019 Longitudinal Immigration Database.

Notes:
1) All wages are in 2018 constant dollars.
2) Immigrants settlement CMA based on intended destination CMA at the time of admission to Canada.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

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