Demographic Trends: The Changing Face of Canada’s Women

Canada possesses priceless resources, not just in its natural resources but also in new human resources—gems that are waiting to be uncovered. They are highly educated immigrant women, ready to contribute to the economy in a significant way.

For the first time in seven editions, the Statistics Canada study of Women in Canada includes a new chapter on “Immigrant Women,” giving us a clue to the increasing size and influence of this segment of the Canadian population.

In 2011, there were over 3.5 million immigrant women and girls living in Canada, accounting for about one-fifth of the nation’s female population. Females make up a growing share of the total immigrant population, increasing to 52.3% from 38.7% a century ago. (Females in Canada in general make up 50.8% of the total population today, up from 47.0% a century ago.)

Not only do women account for a higher proportion of the immigrant population than they do in the general population, but a proportionately higher share of these immigrant women (27.7%) hold university degrees than Canadian-born women of the same age (19.2%). (The gap is even wider among men, with 31.2% of immigrant men having earned a university degree compared with only 16.6% of Canadian-born men of the same age).

Yet, despite higher levels of university education among immigrant women, they were less likely to be employed in positions that match their level of education. Among the working population, 48.7% of female immigrants reported a job-to-education mismatch, versus 30.0% of Canadian-born women in the same age group. For men, the numbers are worse:  41.0% of male immigrants and 30.0% of Canadian-born men report a similar mismatch.

Overall, immigrant women are more likely than Canadian-born women to be unemployed (8.8% and 5.2%, respectively), with 14.7% of recent female immigrants being out of work. Unemployment for recent immigrant men is 10%, whereas for more established male immigrants (in Canada for over five years) and for Canadian-born men the unemployment rate is around 6%.

There are smart minds and brilliant new insights and perspectives amongst these new Canadians that can propel the Canadian economy forward to everyone’s benefit. The tax and financial services are great industries to grow in. Forward-looking leaders in the tax and financial services will want to tap this emerging potential by providing professional advice, networking opportunities and paths to employment or entrepreneurship.

Additional Educational Resources: Empower Your Presence by Catherine Bell.

Tax Services Specialist, Bookkeeping Services Specialist program, Business Services Specialist program.