The income of immigrants who pursue postsecondary education in Canada
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By Anne-Marie Rollin
After eight years in Canada, male and female immigrants who began postsecondary education (PSE) in Canada in the second or third year after their arrival were more likely to have employment income than their counterparts who did not have PSE. However, the gap is much wider for women (more than 15 percentage points) than men (1 to 5 percentage points).
Among female immigrants with no employment income in the first year after their arrival, those who pursued postsecondary education in Canada had a higher probability of having employment income in the eighth year. Among female immigrants who had employment income in the first year, those who pursued PSE had a lower probability of having no employment income in the eighth year. The differences in probability exist even when controls for differences in individual characteristics at the time of immigration such as age, education level upon arrival, country of origin and immigrant class are taken into account.
Both immigrant men and women who pursue postsecondary education in Canada experience greater growth in their employment income. For women who begin postsecondary education, the growth rate of employment income over eight years is more than 125%, compared to 61% for women who do not pursue PSE. The employment income of men who begin postsecondary education increases by more than 80%, while that of men who do not do so increases by 50%.
In most cases, differences in income growth between immigrants with and without postsecondary education in Canada remain when controls for the effect of individual characteristics at the time of immigration are taken into account.
Also, differences in the growth of employment income related to pursuing postsecondary education in Canada do not differ significantly depending on whether immigrants were with or without a university degree when they arrived.
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