Statistics Canada data shows that immigrants have a high rate of employment

Immigrants are successful at finding employment

The release of the 2021 census data on immigration showed that 23% of Canada’s population is an immigrant. The census defined immigrants as people who are or have ever been a landed immigrant or permanent resident

The survey shows that immigrants have been successful in finding employment and filling some of the gaps in Canada’s labour force. Just over 62% of immigrants aged 15 and over are employed. It was also found that immigrants who arrived in Canada over the past five years had an employment rate of 70.7%, a higher rate than October 2019, pre-pandemic.

Employment increases for both genders occurred mainly in the core working age group of 25-54 years old.

Young women aged 15-24 have seen a decrease in their rate of employment.

The survey found that 64.3% of employees with wages over $40 an hour had received a raise but only 50% of employees received a raise if they made less than $20.

The lowest proportion of employees who had received a raise worked in agriculture, 47.2%, and accommodation and food services at 49.7%. These are two industries that typically have hourly wages below the national average. Additionally, 53.6% of those employed in healthcare and social services received a raise. Wage growth in this sector has been slow, rising 0.9% year-over-year.

Employment is up in six provinces.

Most new employment occurred in Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Ontario had the largest increase in employment with 43,000 positions filled, mainly in part-time work.

Quebec also showed some significant growth with 28,000 positions filled. Overall gains were mainly full-time and within construction, finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing. The province has an unemployment rate of 4.1%.

Prince Edward Island saw some significant gains in employment in the wake of Hurricane Fiona, which caused considerable damage to the province. Employment increased by 4,300 positions.

Hybrid positions are still prominent

The study found that 1.7 million Canadians are working in a hybrid position, meaning they split their work week with sometime in the office and some time remotely from home. Hybrid arrangements have increased between January and October.

The largest number of hybrid jobs are within the finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing sector, public administration and professional, scientific, and technical services.

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