Toronto lags in immigrant employment opportunity

In a report generated by the Toronto Board of Trade, a Stats Canada study is summarized noting the following facts about the employment prospects for new immigrants:

• The average hourly wage of an immigrant with the same or better qualifications than their Canadian counterpart is 10% lower.
• As of 2008, immigrants aged 25-54 with college degrees earned 20% less than their Canadian-born counterparts (even though on average they were both younger and more educated)
• Research showed that 40% of new immigrants to Canada are forced to make a downward step in their career paths
• Less than half of internationally trained immigrants were working in their field.
• Three times as many individuals (37%) we unemployed or under-employed than those trained in Canada (11%)
• Relative incomes for newcomers are falling
• Chronic low income occurs at a rate 250% higher than in Canadian-born populations

These are sober figures for anyone seeking to immigrate to Canada to pursue a professional career.

Read the full report: "Lifting All Boats: Promoting Social Cohesion and Economic Inclusion in the Toronto Region" here