Newcomers face poverty hurdle, study shows

Recent immigrants more likely to earn less


OTTAWA (CP) ¦ Immigrants who have been here less than six years are far more likely to have low incomes than are native-born Canadians , a new Statistics Canada study reported today.

"Recent immigrants were two to three times more likely than non-immigrants to experience low incomes, regardless of sex, level of education, family type or province of residence," the study said.
"Furthermore, they were more likely to experience it repeatedly."

The study, which surveyed a group of immigrants over a period of years, confirmed findings from the last census, but offered a longer-term view.

The information agency said recent arrivals who have been here less than seven years, visible minority immigrants and seniors who came in their 40s and 50s are most likely to have low incomes.

Almost half of the recent immigrants reported at least one low-income year during the survey. Among native-born Canadians, only 22 per cent had at least one low-income year.

The study said recent immigrants mainly come from Asia and tend to be younger than immigrants who came to Canada in earlier immigration waves.

Three of four recent immigrants are visible minorities.

These minority immigrants tend to have lower incomes, although Canadian-born visible minorities are no more likely to be poor than anyone else.

The study said visible minority immigrants may have language problems, may have trouble getting their educational credentials accepted and may be victims of discrimination.

Elderly immigrants, who came to Canada in their 50s, tended to have lower incomes, although seniors in general are the group least likely to be poor.

Immigrants, though, may not have been here long enough to build up substantial pension benefits. Those here less than 10 years wouldn't be eligible for the old age pension or the guaranteed income supplement.

The report said that immigrants who have been in Canada for seven years or more are not more likely to be poor, "suggesting that, after a period of adjustment, immigrants generally integrate well into Canada's economy."

More recent arrivals, though, have a tougher time. Other studies found that the gap in both earnings and low-income rates between new arrivals and non-immigrants has been growing.

This suggests that new arrivals will take longer to catch up than did their predecessors.

Now this is something bad news for us (new immigrants)

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Thanks Jyoti! I could not post this article as I was away from the city for few days.

Regards.
Biomed

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