Both the low-income and the earnings gap between immigrants and the Canadian born are observed to have increased, particularly for recent immigrants. While the incidence of low income fell among the Canadian born during the 1990s, it increased among immigrants in all education and age groups, and from most "non-traditional" source countries. In Canada's major cities virtually all the increase in low-income rates during the 1990s was concentrated among the immigrant population. The deterioration in immigrant economic welfare occurred despite policy changes designed to select individuals with greater potential contribution to the Canadian economy. We find that changes in immigrant characteristics accounted for roughly one-third of the increase in the gap. Decreasing economic returns to foreign work experience and education also played a large role. © 2004 by the Institute of Urban Studies All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.

immigrants Integration Earnings Immigration poverty

Canada wage gap low income population migrants experience North America immigrant population