--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/the-improved-labour-market-performance-of-new-immigrants-to-canada-2006-2019/" title: "The Improved Labour Market Performance of New Immigrants to Canada, 2006-2019" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T10:39:09+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T10:39:09+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Canada" - "employment" - "immigrants" - "immigration outcomes" - "Labour Force Survey" - "labour market" - "participation rate" - "wages" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Labour Markets" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # The Improved Labour Market Performance of New Immigrants to Canada, 2006-2019 Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/the-improved-labour-market-performance-of-new-immigrants-to-canada-2006-2019/ # The Improved Labour Market Performance of New Immigrants to Canada, 2006-2019 [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2020-03-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Wong, Kimberly. 2020. “The Improved Labour Market Performance of New Immigrants to Canada, 2006-2019.” CSLS Research Report 2020-03. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/the-improved-labour-market-performance-of-new-immigrants-to-canada-2006-2019/ ## Author: - Kimberly Wong Atlantic Institute for Policy Research, University of New Brunswick ## Report 2020-03 June 2020 60 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Closing the First Nations Education Gap in Canada: Assessing Progress and Estimating the Economic Benefits — An Update Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2023 | Report 2023-01 | 101 pages](https://csls.ca/research/closing-the-first-nations-education-gap-in-canada-assessing-progress-and-estimating-the-economic-benefits-an-update-2023-01/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? Andrew Sharpe December 1999 | Report 1999-03 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-in-canadaa-training-system-under-siege/) [A Survey of Indicators of Economic and Social Well-being Andrew Sharpe July 1999 | Report 1999-cprn | 72 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-survey-of-indicators-of-economic-and-social-well-being/) [A Comparison of Canadian and U.S. Labour Market Performance, 1989-2000 Andrew Sharpe April 2001 | Report 2001-01 | 29 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-comparison-of-canadian-and-u-s-labour-market-performance-1989-2000/) [Creating a More Efficient Labour Market Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2001 | Report 2001-02 | 147 pages](https://csls.ca/research/creating-a-more-efficient-labour-market/) [The Impact of the National Child Benefit Supplement on the Low Income Status of Canadian Families with Children: The SPSD/M Results Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2002 | Report 2002-01 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-the-national-child-benefit-supplement-on-the-low-income-status-of-canadian-families-with-children-the-spsd-m-results/) [Productivity Trends in Natural Resources Industries in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01a | 69 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-natural-resources-industries-in-canada/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This report provides a descriptive analysis of the labour market outcomes of new immigrants to Canada from 2006 to 2019. Using data from the Labour Force Survey, it focuses on four labour market indicators: participation, unemployment, and employment rates, as well as average hourly wages. It compares trends in labour market outcomes among very recent immigrants (5 years or less since immigration), recent immigrants (5-10 years since immigration), and Canadian-born workers. This report finds that new immigrants are on average younger and better educated than the Canadian-born. As a result, their labour force participation and employment rates were comparable to, if not better than, those of the Canadian-born. However, the unemployment rates of new immigrants were higher, and average hourly wages were lower. Over the 2006 to 2019 period, very recent immigrants enjoyed an absolute and relative improvement in all four indicators. Recent immigrants enjoyed an improvement in all four absolute indicators and three of four relative indicators; relative hourly wages were the exception. Ce rapport présente une analyse descriptive des résultats sur le marché du travail des nouveaux immigrants au Canada de 2006 à 2019. À l’aide des données de l’Enquête sur la population active, il porte sur quatre indicateurs du marché du travail : le taux d’activité, le taux de chômage, le taux d’emploi, ainsi que le salaire horaire moyen. Il compare les tendances des résultats sur le marché du travail entre les immigrants très récents (5 ans ou moins depuis l’immigration), les immigrants récents (5 à 10 ans depuis l’immigration) et les travailleurs nés au Canada. Ce rapport constate que les nouveaux immigrants sont en moyenne plus jeunes et plus scolarisés que les personnes nées au Canada. En conséquence, leur taux d’activité et leur taux d’emploi étaient comparables, voire meilleurs, que ceux des personnes nées au Canada. Cependant, les taux de chômage des nouveaux immigrants étaient plus élevés et leur salaire horaire moyen était plus faible. Au cours de la période de 2006 à 2019, les immigrants très récents ont connu une amélioration absolue et relative pour les quatre indicateurs. Les immigrants récents ont connu une amélioration pour les quatre indicateurs absolus et pour trois des quatre indicateurs relatifs, le salaire horaire relatif faisant exception. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2020-03-1.pdf)