Proportion of immigrants who are STEM graduates
Because they operate in a global labour market, the profile of STEM graduates is affected by a substantial degree of labour market inflows and outflows.Note1 One indicator of such international interactions is the proportion of immigrants who have a STEM degree.
In Canada, immigrants represent a significant portion of the population with a STEM degree. In 2011, 46% of university-educated immigrant men aged 25 to 34 had STEM degree, compared with 32% of their Canadian-born counterparts (Chart A.1). Among female university graduates aged 25 to 34, immigrants were twice as likely to have a STEM degree as the Canadian-born (23% versus 13%).
As a result, among those aged 25 to 34 with a STEM university degree, 35% of men and 38% of women were immigrants. Moreover, among men aged 25 to 34 with a STEM university degree, 9% were non-permanent residents (7% among women).
Differences between immigrants and the Canadian-born also existed within STEM programs. For instance, among women with a STEM university degree, 17% of the Canadian-born received it from an engineering program, compared with 28% of immigrants. Also, only 10% of Canadian-born women obtained their STEM degree in mathematics and computer science, compared with 26% of female immigrants.
Finally, of immigrants aged 25 to 34 with a STEM university degree, slightly less than half obtained it outside Canada.
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