While the immigration rates have slightly slowed due to the worldwide pandemic, some countries are starting to welcome a surge of new immigrants into their workforce. Canada, for example, is promising many benefits for its new permanent residents in terms of wages, insurance, and much more.
This article discusses current immigrant wages in Canada and the factors that affect them. We’ll also offer a few tips on how newcomers can make the most of their situation in their new state of residence.
The Different Wage Profiles
Over the past couple of years, the profile of immigrants admitted to Canada has changed drastically. Before, a significant number of immigrants were either seasonal workers or arrivals with low educational profiles who needed additional experience to climb the corporate ladder. These days, immigrants fill in-demand positions, many of which are much higher paid than in other countries. In fact, some of them can grant higher salaries than the median wage for Canadians.
To better understand what this means, a distinction between the average wage and the median wage has to be made. The average wage represents the sum of all of a group divided by the number of its members. On the other hand, the median wage represents income that’s in the middle of the income ranges for a group. This provides a more thorough insight into the situation of this group. Since immigrants represent a minor group compared to the rest of the Canadian population, a detailed influx of information can give us a more representative image.
The Recent Movement of Canadian Immigrant Wages
Until 2019, Canada has been focusing on raising the number of admitted immigrants and integrating all newcomers into its workforce. This has been done through different tactics such as educational and work programs, which allowed foreigners to gain Canadian work experience in and outside of the country.
Through their pre-admission and experience, a record number of new arrivals were able to show proficiency in languages and deep knowledge of the Canadian job market. Armed with these skills, they were able to secure high-wage entry positions. In addition, many employers made favorable changes in their admission requirements, acknowledging foreign certificates. This was typically done in sectors locals showed a lack of interest for, creating a void that needed filling.
After the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, immigration came to a short standstill. Canada focused on securing the wages for those already living in the country, including the temporary residents. However, as the world has opened up again, the Canadian government has seen the opportunity to fill in vacant positions with a much-needed foreign workforce once again.
That said, the pandemic also brought on the need for new laws and regulations securing personal safety measures, which often limit the movements of the new immigrants. At the same time, they are provided with more favorable health insurance plans and higher entry-level wages than ever before. Healthcare, transportation, and production are just some of the most in-demand fields where these new rules were applied.
Factors That Affect Immigrant Wages in Canada
Despite the favorable movements of the median entry wages, it’s important to note that not all immigrants will earn the same salaries even in the same positions. Here are some crucial factors that may affect the Canadian immigrant wages:
Country of origin: Studies show that those arriving from English-speaking and well-developed countries can secure jobs with much higher salaries than those coming from developing or poorly developed countries.
Pre-admission experience: Those arriving in Canada with previous work experience will have salaries that can be even higher than the median wage for permanent residents.
Education level: Apart from the required proficiency in English, a new arrival showing aptitude in French or any other major language group may also have a chance to acquire higher entry wages.
Age: Younger immigrants are much more likely to pursue higher education and work experience prior to their arrival to Canada, which helps them secure better-paying jobs.
Previous stay in the country: Most people who obtained a lucrative position after immigrating to Canada have already stayed in a country beforehand for education or seasonal work.
Willingness to commit: Immigrants with pre-admission experience willing to remain in their providence of admission are seen as more trustworthy and will climb the corporate ladder faster.
Country regulations: The coronavirus pandemic has brought the need for new laws that limit the possibility of looking for other jobs, encouraging many to pursue professional development.
Category of admission: Immigrants entering a country with a short-term work visa (such as seasonal workers) will have lower wages than those granted with even a temporary residency.
How Immigrants Can Raise Their Wages
After close observation, it becomes obvious that to obtain better-paying jobs, the new residents will need to arm themselves with knowledge and experience in the field of admission. While education in the relevant field is appreciated, this alone won’t qualify anyone for a higher salary.
For those wanting to earn a better than average wage, it’s a good idea to enter into a Canadian economic program organized in the home country. By combining their proof of education with their newly acquired skills, they will be much more likely to secure a permanent job in their providence of admission.
Doing thorough research and study of the job market can help foreigners prepare for landing a higher-wage entry position in Canada. There is a wide variety of in-demand positions that offer higher pay and more security through health insurance and other policies. For some, securing these benefits can be even more valuable than the amount of the wage itself.
Conclusion
While immigrant wages in Canada are still below the sums earned by the local residents, they are showing a steady increase. The pandemic had some negative effects on immigration to Canada but it only reinforced the stability of newcomers’ earnings.
The lack of interest shoved by permanent residents in some fields also contributes to the climb of Canadian immigrant wages. The country has established several economical programs, allowing foreigners to gain Canadian work experience before arriving into their province of admission.
Independently of their immigration status, the more extensive skill set someone possesses, the higher their salary will be. It is now a great time for anyone to find work in Canada, especially for highly skilled workers.
