Women Economic Immigrants Outpace Men in Canadian Education Attainment: Statistics Canada Report.
- Vikrant Gungash
- Aug 26, 2023
- 3 min read
By Jessica Thakur
August 26, 2023

In a recent report by Statistics Canada, it has been revealed that women who immigrated to Canada through economic programs over the last decade were more likely to obtain Canadian college and university degrees compared to their male counterparts. This trend sheds light on the challenges women face in having their foreign educational credentials recognized in Canada.
The study, titled "Canadian Postsecondary Education and Labour Market Outcomes of 2010 Economic Immigrants to Canada," analyzed the educational pathways and achievements of economic immigrants who arrived in the country prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights that a higher proportion of women who were principal applicants under economic immigration programs successfully completed Canadian educational qualifications in comparison to men, across all continents of birth.
Particularly notable was the educational gap among immigrants born in Europe, where only 6.2% of men obtained a Canadian postsecondary qualification, while a significantly higher 19.9% of women achieved the same. Similar trends were observed in immigrants from the Americas.
Researchers George Marshall and Eric Fecteau from Statistics Canada suggest that the driving force behind this phenomenon could be the challenges women face in having their foreign educational credentials recognized in Canada. Earlier research conducted in the early 2000s indicated that immigrant women were less likely to have their educational qualifications recognized compared to men. This may have motivated more women immigrants to pursue further education within Canada.
The report also highlights that economic immigrants who pursued Canadian postsecondary education often had a higher educational background before immigration. Those with a master's or doctorate degree at admission had a 17.3% likelihood of completing a Canadian postsecondary qualification, compared to 14.2% for those with a bachelor's degree.
Moreover, the researchers discovered a positive correlation between immigrants who obtained Canadian diplomas or degrees and their earning power. Immigrants who pursued further education in Canada and were earning less upon arrival caught up to their counterparts within a decade. By 2019, those with Canadian postsecondary qualifications surpassed the median employment income of those without such qualifications.
The findings underscore the significance of Canadian education in boosting immigrants' economic prospects and aligning them with local workforce standards. As Canada continues to welcome economic immigrants, acknowledging the challenges they face in credential recognition and promoting educational opportunities might contribute to further empowering these newcomers on their path to success.

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