“Recent immigrants bring the skills,

knowledge and experience needed

to support York Region’s goal of

creating an innovative and

adaptive economy.”[1]

YORK REGION FACT SHEET

The Importance of Immigrant Labour Market Integration for Businesses, the Local Economy and Society in the York Region Area

YORK REGION’S POPULATION AND RATE OF GROWTH

  • York Region’s population is the fastest growing in all of Ontario and is growing at a rate of almost 3 times that of the province as a whole.[2] The large majority of this growthhas occurred in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan.[3]
  • At the end of 2007, the population of York Region was estimated to be 983,056. By 2031, the population is expected to reach 1.5 million.[4]

IMMIGRATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO YORK REGION’S POPULATION AND GROWTH

  • Much of the population growth in York Region has been a result of immigration. Between 2001 and 2006, York Region saw a 22% increase in its population (or 163,458 people). 60% of this growth (or 96,735 people) resulted from immigration.[5]
  • Nearly half of the growth from immigration has been from recent immigrants, or immigrants who have lived in Canada for 5 years or less.
  • In 2006, 380,500 immigrants called York Region their home and they comprised 43% of the total population of the region. This was a 3% increase from 2001, when immigrants comprised only 40% of the population. In Richmond Hill and Markham, over 50% of the population is non-Canadian born.[6]

THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMIGRANT LABOUR MARKET INTEGRATION IN YORK REGION

Contribution to the economy

  • The growth in population has been critical to York Region’s economic prosperity, as it has produced increased consumer demand for products and services and more skilled workers.[7]
  • Immigrants are also valuable to York Region’s ability to compete on domestic and international levels. Immigrants in York Region speak a variety of languages and represent more than 200 different ethnic groups.[8]
  • Generally, immigrants to Canada are between the ages of 25 and 44 and, thus, of an age where they could participate in the labour force and contribute to the economy.[9]
  • It is common for immigrants to be well-educated and highly-skilled. According to Statistics Canada (2006), 51% of recent immigrants have a University degree, compared with only 19% of the overall Canadian population.[10]

Replacing future shortages in workers

  • 1/3rd of the population of York Region (and Ontario) is considered of the Baby Boomer generation and will retire in the coming years.[11]
  • It has been estimated that by 2011, 100% of Canada’s net labour growth will come from immigration.[12]
  • Immigration and immigrant labour market integration will be crucial in replacing the retiring work force and contributing to the local economy.

The Importance of Immigrant Labour Market Integration forSMEs in York Region

  • SMEs play a large role in York Region’s economy:
  • “According tothe Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the majority of jobs, roughly 70 %, are created in the small to medium enterprise (SME’s) sector.SME’s are the majority of the businesses in York Region. To extrapolate thispercentage in York Region, that translates to approximately 325,000 jobsacross 28,000 businesses!”[13]
  • A recent Canadian Federation of Independent Business Report indicated that 68% of small businesses predict that a labour shortage will worsen over time.[14]
  • SMEs often have fewer resources than larger companies to facilitate integration of IEPs into their businesses; thus, they may experience the effects of a labour shortage more heavily.

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Rapid integration of recent immigrants into the labour market is especially important for municipalities that have a large proportion of recent immigrants. A mismatch between numbers of new immigrants and immigrant employment rates can have a significant impact on communities in terms of economic growth, quality of life and costs of community social assistance.

“Immigration has contributed to Canada’s growth as a nation and will play a key role in building the Canada of tomorrow, addressing future labour market and demographic needs, and supporting the country’s international role and geopolitical presence. Looking to the future, more successful and well-integrated newcomers in all parts of Canada are key to nation building and to our economic prosperity.”[15]

[1]The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. (2005)., as cited by The Regional Municipality of York. (2006). Community Snapshots: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region. Newmarket, Ontario, p 14.

[2]The Ontario Trillium Foundation. (2010). Community Profile: Simcoe-York. Retrieved online from

[3]An Economic Profile of York Region. Chapter 3. (2007). Retrieved online from

[4]Ibid.

[5] Just the Facts about your Community: Diversity of Residents Living in York Region. Retrieved online from

[6] Ibid.

[7]An Economic Profile of York Region. Chapter 3. (2007). Retrieved online from

[8] Just the Facts about your Community: Languages of residents living in York Region. Retrieved online from Regional Municipality of York, Ontario. (2010). Newcomer Services. Retrieved online from

[9]Just the Facts about your Community: Diversity of Residents Living in York Region. Retrieved online from

[10]Statistics Canada. Educational Portrait of Canada, Census 2006. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008, as cited by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

[11]York South Simcoe Training and Adjustment Board. TOP Report 2008. Retrieved online from

[12]Just the Facts about your Community: Diversity of Residents Living in York Region. Retrieved online from

[13]York South Simcoe Training and Adjustment Board. TOP Report 2008. Retrieved online from

[14]Ibid.

[15]The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration (2005), as cited by The Regional Municipality of York. (2006). Community Snapshots: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region. Newmarket, Ontario, p 14.