Does regionalisation of immigration work in Canada? Comparative analyses on economic performance of recent immigrants in Atlantic Canada and traditional destinations

Abstract

Despite growing interest in new immigration gateway research, comparative analyses of the economic performance between new and traditional destinations among recent immigrants are limited. As a case study from Atlantic Canada, this research addresses two main questions. First, are earnings disadvantages of recent immigrants relative to their native-born counterparts smaller in Atlantic Canada than Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver (i.e., MTV)? Second, do recent immigrants in Atlantic Canada earn more than recent immigrants in MTV? My analysis of the 2006 Canadian Census data finds recent immigrants' low earnings are less severe in Atlantic Canada than in MTV. Moreover, earnings disadvantages associated with being racial minorities, speaking non-official languages at work or home, and possessing foreign credentials are smaller in Atlantic Canada than in MTV. Recent immigrants who speak non-official languages at work in Atlantic Canada earn more than those in MTV. Finally, those who have obtained highest education from Northern Europe earn less in Atlantic Canada than in MTV. Finally, I discuss implications of these findings for policy recommendations and future studies.