Immigrant entry wages drop 10.6% despite remaining above pre-pandemic levels

New data from Statistics Canada reveals that the median entry wage for immigrants arriving in Canada fell by 10.6% in 2023, marking the steepest decline since 1991. Despite this drop, newcomers' earnings one year after admission remained above pre-pandemic figures. The decrease coincided with a 1.1% rise in overall Canadian wages and appears linked to shifts in admission categories, particularly a reduction in Canadian Experience Class principal applicants—who typically command higher wages—from pandemic-era peaks. The 2024 Longitudinal Immigration Database shows wage variations across admission categories, with economic principal applicants earning $51,500 while refugees averaged $25,900. Pre-admission Canadian work experience continued to correlate with higher entry wages.

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