::CANADA - 2004 Immigration Overview

A total of 235,808 people immigrated to Canada in 2004, a seven percent increase over the previous year. This number was within the 2004 planning target range of 220,000 to 245,000 new immigrants. Fifty-seven percent of immigrants were in the economic class. The provincial nominee program boosted immigration to a number of provinces that traditionally attract small immigration flows. For example, Manitoba’s provincial nominee program helped boost immigration to the province to over 7,400 immigrants in 2004, the highest recorded level in the most recent 15-year period. Nevertheless, more than half of all immigrants continued to be destined to Ontario.

Thirty-eight percent of arriving immigrants between 25 and 64 years of age had a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education. At this level of education, there were an almost equal number of men and women immigrants. At the two extremes of the educational levels, however, women were over represented at the lower end and underrepresented at the higher end.

There has been a noticeable trend toward increasing skill levels among immigrants over the most recent 15-year period. Among immigrants 15 years of age or older whose skill level could be classified, 58% were professionals (skill level A), compared to only 17% in 1990. Together, the two lowest skill levels (intermediate and clerical, and elemental and labour) accounted for only 10% of immigrants in 2004 compared to 37% in 1990.

In 2004, 17% of all immigrants over the age of 15 (31,798) were classified as non-workers (a category that excludes students). Ninety-seven percent of these non-workers were female and a third declared no knowledge of English or French on landing. A high proportion (64%) was between the ages of 25 and 44.

The leading mother tongue of 2004 newcomers was Mandarin, followed by English and Arabic. A greater number of immigrants declared an ability to speak French so that in that year, one in seven immigrants had some knowledge of French on arrival in Canada.

Thirty-seven percent of new immigrants had no knowledge of English or French at arrival, but almost a third of these were children under the age of 10.