A Metropolitan Area Level Analysis of Internal Migration of Canadian Immigrants, 1993-2004:

A Comparison of Pre-Migration and Post-Migration Characteristics

Karen M. King, SEDAP Postdoctoral Fellow

K. Bruce Newbold, Professor

School of Geography and Earth SciencesMcMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Canada’s immigrant population is rapidly growing and is geographically concentrated in metropolitan gateways.

Facing an aging population, attempts have been made to encourage immigrant settlement outside of the three major immigrant destinations.

Introduction

Purpose

• Describes the migration and distribution patterns of the foreign-born across Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs).

• Examines the pre- and post- migration characteristics of the foreign-born in Canada who undertake an internal migration – change in region of residence.

Data SourceSurvey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) Master files (1993, 1996 and 1999 six-year panels)

Geography27 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and 10 Rest of Province

Mobility DataAnnual Place of Residence

Socio-economic and Demographic CharacteristicsHousehold, income, labour force status, occupation, education, age, martial status, number of parents, number of children, household size, year of immigration to Canada, region of birth

Sample Description

Individuals born outside of Canada

Aged 20 to 59 at the start of each panel

Resident in Canada through the entire six years of each panel

Magnitude of Immigrants6,994, 999 immigrants in the 1993/1996/1999 panels of SLID

465, 567 (6.7 percent) immigrants who made at least one move

196, 196 (42.1 percent) from the 1993 panel 137, 604 (29.5 percent) from the 1996 panel 131,767 (28.3 percent) from the 1999 panel.

93,962 (20.1 percent of movers) made multiple migrations.

Distribution of Foreign-Born: Origins

1.12.1Vancouver, BC

9.55.1Rest of British Columbia

10.76.5Edmonton, AB

5.49.3Montreal, QC

9.911.9Rest of Ontario (including Windsor)

5.829.0Toronto, ON

Percentage of Foreign-Born in

the Region

Percentage of ALL Migrants

in CanadaRegion of Residence

Origin of Foreign-Born Migrants in Year 1

Distribution of Foreign-Born: Destinations

3.05.2Montreal, QC

12.25.9Hamilton, ON12.26.3Calgary, AB3.66.9Vancouver, BC3.115.3Toronto, ON

17.022.1Rest of Ontario(including Windsor)

Percentage of Foreign-Born in

the Region

Percentage of ALL Migrants in

CanadaRegion of Residence

Destination of Foreign-Born in Year 6

Number of Parents

Number of Parents Residing with Migrants

88.25

3.068.69

96.27

2.02 1.710

20

40

60

80

100

0 1 2

Percent

Year 1Year 6

Number of Children

Number of Children Residing with Migrants

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 1 2 3 plus

Percent

Year 1

Year 6

Household Size

Household Size of Migrants

05

101520253035404550

2 3 4 to 5 6 plus

Percent

Year 1

Year 6

Education

Highest Level of Education Attainment of Migrants

05

10152025303540

High School orLess

SomeUniversity

Non-universityCertificate

Bachelor'sDegree

Above BA

Percent

Year 1Year 6

Labour Force Status

Labour Force Status of Migrants

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Full-time Part-time Unemployed Not in LabourForce

Not stated

Year 1

Year 6

Percent

Total Income

Total Income of Migrants

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 to 25K 25 to 50K 50 to 75K 75 to 100k 100 to 150K 150 plus

Percent

Year 1

Year 6

Year of ImmigrationYear of Immigration to Canada

0

5

10

15

20

25

before1956

1956 to1960

1961 to1965

1966 to1970

1971 to1975

1976 to1980

1981 to1985

1986 to1990

1991 to1996

1996 to1998

Percent

Region of Birth

Selected Region of Birth of Migrants

02468

101214161820

United Kingdom Southeast Asia Western Europe South Asia United States

Percent

Logistic Analyses

Five models: DemographicSocio-economicResidential ImmigrationFull

Each model examines the odds of the foreign-born in Canada making an internal migration during the six year period captured in the SLID panels.

Full Model

Demographic: females and unmarried are more likely to migrate while individuals in households with parents or children are less likely to migrate.

Socioeconomic: bachelor’s degree or higher and employed full time are more likely to make an internal migration.

Full Model

Residential: Individuals residing in Toronto and Montreal in Year 1 are much more likely to make an internal migration than their Vancouver counterparts

Immigration: suggests two streams of internal migrants, long-term residents and recent arrivals

Demographic Model: Household Size

Demographic Model: Household Size

Size 1

Size 2-3

Size 4-5

Size 6 or greater

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

Odds Ratio

Year 6Year 1

Economic Model: Education

Economic Model: Education

0 0.5 1 1.5 2

High School or Less

Some Post-secondary

Bachelor's Degree

Above BA

Odds Ratio

Year 6

Year 1

Residential Model: Gateway Cities

Residential Model: Gateway Cities

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Vancouver

Montreal

Toronto

Odds Ratio

Year 6

Year 1

ConclusionsForeign-born who undertake an internal migration are young, married, in small households and employed.

The year of immigration and region of birth results suggests that there are two distinct streams of internal migrants.

The sub-provincial distribution and migration patterns of internal migrants suggests that when the foreign-born move, they are primarily choosing one of the three immigrant gateway cities.