Drivers of in‑migration: Labour market participation of immigrants in their level of education

Abstract

Immigration has become an increasingly important component of New Brunswick’s population growth, contributing to the province’s labour force and skill base. Understanding how immigrants’ education and experience align with their occupational outcomes post-migration is central to assessing the extent to which their human capital is recognized in the labour market. Using linked administrative and survey data from the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) and the 2016 Census, this study analyzes occupational skill levels, broad occupational categories, earnings patterns, and intended occupations at landing for immigrants who arrived in New Brunswick between 1980 and 2016. Comparisons with long‑term non‑immigrant residents provide insight into how educational background is associated with occupational outcomes across groups.

The findings show that alignment between education and occupation is generally weaker for immigrants. Although immigrants often hold high levels of education, their non‑Canadian credentials and experiences are not consistently associated with the same occupational or earnings advantages observed among non‑immigrants. Although it improves among longer‑term residents, this may be due in part to survivor bias. Cohort differences, variation across occupational groups, and narrower returns to education highlight the complexity of immigrant labour market integration.