Does province of residence influence access to settlement services? A view from Western Canada By: Jill Bucklaschuk, Lori Wilkinson, Jack (Yi) Shen, Iqbal Ahmed Chowdhury and Tamara Edkins Canadian Research Data Centre Network Investing in our Futures Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba 31 October 2014
Objectives of Research PROJECT OBJECTIVES: to better understand the settlement experiences of immigrants living in the western region, with a special interest in use of settlement services RESEARCH QUESTIONS do service utilization rates vary by province of residence? What are the characteristics of newcomers who don t access services? What factors influence service use and settlement? Do these differ by province? 2
Datasets used Pan Canadian (N=20,818), Western Canadian (N=3006) and Alberta Settlement (N=1006) Surveys Random samples drawn from a CIC data file Telephone survey conducted in late 2012/early 2013 IMDB Landings records (LIDS) combined with tax files for all immigrants and refugees landing between 1980 and 2012 Census of the population 3
How representative are the surveys? Surprisingly good match between IMDB (Census of immigrants) and the other surveys Western Canada Settlement Survey Slightly under-represented female economic class dependents Slightly over-represented female economic class principal applicants Under-represented male and female refugees Pan Canadian Settlement Survey Under-represented men from BC Over-represented women from SK and MB Over-represented men from SK and MB 4
Immigrant Arrivals by Province, 2003-12 50000 Immigration Trends, 2003-2012 by Province of Residence 45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 BC AB SK MB TR* 10000 5000 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2014
TFW, International Students, & Permanent Residents by Province 80,000 TFW, International Students, and Permanent Residents by Province, 2013 70,000 60,000 Number of Respondents 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 BC AB SK MB TFW International Students Permanent Residents Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2014
Demographics slide % living rural areas by province % entrance class by province
Percentage of Newcomers using settlement services on arrival Alberta Settlement Survey Western Canada Settlement Survey Accessed Services 47.1% 52.9% 33.3% 66.7% Pan Canadian Survey NA NA Have not used services Significant provincial differences: -Manitoba highest at 41.9% -Saskatchewan/Alberta at 29.9%
% of immigrants accessing service by province 45 41.9 40 35 30 31.7 29.9 29.8 Percent 25 20 20.0 15 10 5 0 British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Territories Source Source: WCSS, 2013 χ 2 =16.978, df=3, p =0.01
Who accesses services? Accessed services Did not access services Gender Males: 49.3%; Females: 50.7% Males: 49.6%; Females: 50.4% Age 25-34 (42.1%) 25-34 (46.5%) Highest level of education prior to arrival University undergraduate degree (40.7%) (37.8%) Income $10.00-$14.00/hour (31.9% Total N=953 N=1904 University undergraduate degree $10.00-$14.99/hour (29%)
Service use by Urban Area 45 42.3 40 35 35.5 35.3 37.9 35.6 30 29.7 29.1 Percent 25 20 25 15 13 10 5 0
Service Access by Province and Rural/Urban 50% Respondents Who Accessed Services by Province of Residence and Rural/Urban 45% 43.4% Percent who accessed services 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 12.10% 37.0% 35.7% 35.1% 26.90% 26.50% 39.70% 10% 5% 0% BC AB SK MB Rural Urban Source: WCSS, 2013 χ 2 (Rural) =8.595, df=3, p =0.035; χ 2 (Urban) =11.945, df=3, p =0.01
Satisfaction with Services Received by Province 70% Service Satisfaction by Province of Residence 60% 50% Percent 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% BC AB SK MB ON QC NS NB NL PEI Province of Residence Low Medium High Source: PCSS, 2012. χ 2 =74.581, df=18, P 0.01
Service use by language and province of residence BC AB SK Service use by English language ability & Province of Residence English Language Ability Total None Moderate Excellent Accessed services 232 51.2% 42.6% 34.2% (36.2%) Did not use services 409 48.8% 57.4% 65.8% (63.8%) Accessed services 258 60.0% 51.5% 32.0% (34.6%) Did not use services 487 40.0% 48.5% 68.0% (65.4%) Accessed services 211 54.1% 43.9% 31.3% (33.8%) Did not use services 414 45.9% 56.1% 68.7% (66.2%) Source: WCSS χ 2 (BC) = 6.141, df=2, P 0.05; χ 2 (Alberta) = 17.484, df=2, P 0.01; χ 2 (Saskatchewan) = 10.896, df=2, P 0.01 14
How easy is it for me to locate information about finding a job in Canada? 80% 70% 60% 50% 55% 48% 69% 70% 66% 64% 64% 57% 55% 48% 59% 61% 60% 52% 52% 51% 45% 66% 61% 40% 30% 35% Male Female 20% 10% 0% BC AB SK MB ON QC NS NB PEI NFLD Source: Pan-Cdn X 2 (Male) = 158.677 df= 18 P 0.000; X 2 (Female) = 172.974 df= 18 P 0.000
Unemployment Rate by Entrance Class & Province
Trouble finding work that matches my qualifications by province and class
Characteristics of those who do not use services Gender Males: 49.7% / Females: 50.3% Age 25-34 (46.5%) Highest level of education prior to arrival University undergraduate degree (37.6%) Birth country Asia (63.5%) Citizenship Other (93.4%) Entrance class Family class (40.7%) Languages spoken at home Other (49.2%) Employment status Employed, full-time (57%) Income $10.00-$14.00/hour (29%)
Reasons for Not Using Services, by Province 60 50 AB 1st Percent 40 30 20 10 AB 2ND AB 3RD 0 Lack of information or awareness of services Lack of services in your local community Confusion about who to go to in order to get help You feel that you do not need help to settle in your Province BC AB SK MB
Services most needed after arrival by Province Percent 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Employment services Health and wellness English language assessment and instruction BC AB SK MB Information about living in your Province
Why does province of residence matter? Demographics are changing More immigrants moving to Canada s west than ever before Saskatchewan is receiving significantly more newcomers, particularly under the provincial nominee program More immigrants living outside of Canada s largest CMAs Labour markets are different Alberta has been relying on TFWs for much longer than other provinces (TFWs cannot access services) Strong mismatch between skills and job, especially among those living in rural areas Changes to the funding and structure of settlement services (moving from a provincially-run to centralized control)
Selected Data Sources Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Evidence from the Pan- Canadian Settlement Outcomes Survey, 2012. Ottawa: CIC, January 2013. Citizenship and Immigration Canada IMDB Microdata File. Ottawa: CIC, 2013. V. Esses, M. Burstein, Z. Ravanera, S. Hallman and S. Medianu, Alberta Settlement Outcomes Survey. Edmonton: Alberta Human Services, March 2013 V. Esses, L. Hamilton, L. Wilkinson, L. Zong, J. Bucklaschuk and J. Bramadat. Western Canada Settlement Outcomes Survey. Calgary: CIC Western Region Office, June 2013. 22
Acknowledgements Immigration Research West Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Western Region Citizenship and Immigration Canada, National Headquarters Western Settlement Survey University of Saskatchewan: Martin Gaal, Joe Garcea and SSRL Population Research Laboratory, University of Alberta Western Settlement Survey researchers: Victoria Esses (Western University), Leah Hamilton (Mount Royal University) and Li Zong (University of Saskatchewan) Research assistants: Janine Bramadat, Palak Dhiman, Kaitlyn Fraser, University of Manitoba 23
Contact Information Dr. Lori Wilkinson Immigration Research West 92 Dysart Road University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB Canada R3T 3M5 Email: Lori.Wilkinson@umanitoba.ca irw@umanitoba.ca http://umanitoba.ca/about_riw.html 24