Economic Adaptation of Refugees in Canada

This paper examines the economic adaptation, in terms of employment and income, for 400,000 refugees, mainly displaced persons, Hungarians, Czechoslovaks, Ugandan Asians, Chileans, and Indochinese, in Canada during the last 25 years. The author looks at 1) east in obtaining a first job, 2) unemployment, 3) wives' employment, 4) job search techniques, and 5) occupation. Economic climate largely determines the time needed to find a first job. 55% of Hungarian refugees in 1957-58 found a job within a month; only 30% of Czechoslovak refugees in 1968-69 found a job within a month. Refugees and regular immigrants have higher unemployment than native Canadians; but the rate drops dramatically within a few years. Employment and unemployment for refugees is influenced by 1) prevailing labor market conditions, 2) English and/or French language proficiency, 3) sympathy by the population for the refugees, 4) support by people of the same ethnic group, and 5) the refugees' own adaptability. Survey results show that more refugee wives are employed than Canadian born wives; over 69% of Chilean refugee women worked in 1975-76. Most refugees use the Canada Employment Center, and informal channels such as "word of mouth" and friends and relatives to find jobs. Lack of qualifications and experience, and lack of language proficiency hinder many refugees in finding jobs for which they have trained. Income is an indicator of the success of refugee economic adaptation. Refugees, like regular immigrants, have lower than average income levels in their first years in Canada; however, they often earn more than the Canadian born after the difficult first years. Family incomes, because of female labor force participation, may widen the differences even more. Although many refugees are not working in their intended professions, most refugee groups have adjusted well economically in Canada

Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Ethnic group · Geography · Immigration · Political science · Population · Quarter (Canadian coin · Refugee · Sociology · Unemployment · Canadian Policy and Governance · Demography · Employment and Welfare Studies · Law · Migration and Labor Dynamics

• Educated and underemployed

  Open Access•Harvey Krahn, Tracey M Derwing et al.•Journal of International…•2000

  Incluir item

• The problem of refugees in Africa

  Benson C Nindi•Institute of Muslim Minority…•1987

  Incluir item

• Post‐War Immigration in the United States and the State of Minnesota

  Open Access•Barbara Lobodzinska•International Migration•1986

  Incluir item

• The Expenditure Patterns of the Canadian‐born and the Foreign‐born in Canada

  Open Access•William L Marr, D J Mccready•International Migration•1988

  Incluir item

• Access to homeownership among immigrant groups in Canada

  Open Access•Brian Ray, Eric G Moore•Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue…•1991

  Incluir item

• Earnings of Immigrant Classes in the Early 1980s in Canada

  Arnold de Silva•Canadian Public Policy•1997

  Incluir item

• Immigrant Class and the Use of Unemployment Insurance by Recent Immigrants in Canada

  Open Access•Bill Marr, Pierre L Siklos et al.•International Migration Review•1999

  Incluir item

• Asian and Pacific Migration

  Open Access•T J Samuel•Asian and Pacific migration journal•1994

  Incluir item

• Black and White Differences in Homeownership Rates in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area

  Open Access•Joe T Darden, Sameh M Kamel•The Review of Black Political…•2000

  Incluir item

• Employment Income of Immigrants In Metropolitan Areas of Canada, 1980

  Open Access•R B P Verma, Ramesh Chandra Chhajta Dr D P Verma et al.•International Migration•1989

  Incluir item

• Predicting Vietnamese Refugee Adjustment to Western Canada

  Open Access•Richard Montgomery•International Migration•1991

  Incluir item

• The Labour Market Experiences of Canadian Immigrants

  Open Access•T J Samuel, B WOLOSKI•International Migration•1985

  Incluir item

• Adjustment of Immigrants in Canada

  Open Access•Margaret Michalowski•International Migration•1987

  Incluir item

• Asian Immigrants in Canada

  Open Access•K G Basavarajappa, Ravi B P Verma•International Migration•1985

  Incluir item

• The labour market integration of refugee and family reunion immigrants

  P Bevelander, Ravi Pendakur•New Community•2014

  Incluir item