Wages of New Immigrants in Canada Increase by 74% Over a Decade (Source: The Vancouver Korean Press)Posted on Feb 17, 2025
'Wages of New Immigrants in Canada Rise by 74%, Gender Pay Gap Narrows'
According to Statistics Canada, the median entry wage of new immigrants increased by 74.1%, from $25,900 in 2013 to $45,100 in 2022. The expansion of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program post-COVID-19 significantly contributed to this growth.
Additionally, female immigrants’ wages grew 13.2%, three times faster than males (3.8%), reducing the gender pay gap from 36.7% in 2013 to 24.4% in 2022. Over time, immigrants’ wages continue to rise, indicating a positive long-term trend.
Median Entry Wage Reaches $45,100 – Gender Pay Gap Narrows
The wages of new immigrants in Canada have seen a significant increase over the past decade.
According to a report released by Statistics Canada in December 2024, the median entry wage of new immigrants one year after arrival rose from $40,200 in 2021 to $42,900 in 2022, marking a 6.7% increase. In contrast, the median wage for all Canadian workers declined by 1.6% during the same period.
Notably, when compared to 2013 ($25,900), the median entry wage of new immigrants increased by 74.1% to reach $45,100 in 2022.
Sharp Wage Growth Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
The wage growth of new immigrants accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, the median entry wage stood at $35,500 in 2019, but it dropped to $33,100 in 2020. However, by 2021, it surpassed $40,000, demonstrating a substantial recovery.
Statistics Canada attributed this trend to the expansion of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) immigration program, stating that the number of immigrants admitted through the CEC surged from 25,000 in 2020 to 130,000 in 2021, leading to an overall increase in median wages.
Despite this increase, the median wage for CEC immigrants declined from $68,300 in 2021 to $56,400 in 2022, reaching its lowest point in a decade. Nevertheless, CEC immigrants still earned the highest wages among all immigration categories.
The median wages for other immigration categories in 2022 were as follows:
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): $56,400
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): $47,700
- Caregiver Program: $35,400
- Business Immigration: $24,500
Higher Wage Growth Among Female Immigrants
The wage increase among female new immigrants outpaced that of their male counterparts.
- Median entry wage for male immigrants: $40,700 in 2021 → $48,300 in 2022 (+3.8%)
- Median entry wage for female immigrants: $32,600 in 2021 → $36,900 in 2022 (+13.2%)
As a result, the gender wage gap among new immigrants narrowed from 36.7% in 2013 to 24.4% in 2022.
Moreover, the longer immigrants resided in Canada, the smaller the gender wage gap became.
- Female immigrants who arrived in 2012 experienced a 93.4% wage increase over 10 years, reaching $38,300 in 2022.
- Male immigrants saw a 69.6% wage increase in the same period, reaching $53,100.
Accordingly, the gender wage gap declined from 36.7% in 2013 to 27.9% in 2022.
The latest statistics highlight a significant wage increase for new immigrants in Canada over the past decade, alongside a steady narrowing of the gender wage gap. Notably, the expansion of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program following COVID-19 played a key role in driving wage growth.
Additionally, female new immigrants experienced a significantly higher wage growth rate than males, and long-term residency in Canada was linked to continued wage increases. This trend suggests a positive outlook for new immigrants’ economic integration in Canada.
Reference: https://www.vanchosun.com/news/main/frame.php?main=1&boardId=17&sbdtype=&bdId=82699&cpage1=1
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