How Many Immigrants Are Working in Canada in 2026? Trends in the Jobs Market

If you’re a newcomer or planning to immigrate, you might be wondering: how many immigrants are actually working in Canada right now?

In this article, we break down five key facts that help explain the role immigrants play in Canada’s labour market today.

Most of the data here comes from the 2021 census and recent federal reports. A new census will be completed in 2026, so expect a big update once the new data is published.

Fact #1: Immigrants account for almost 80 percent of labour force growth

Immigration drives labour force growth in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, immigration contributed to 79.9 percent of labour force growth between 2016 and 2021. In other words, most new workers entering Canada’s labour market during that period were newcomers.

At the same time, employment outcomes for immigrants have improved. Since 2016, the employment rate among immigrants increased by 2 percentage points, while the employment rate among Canadian-born workers declined slightly.

What this tells us is that immigration is central to how Canada’s workforce is expanding.

Fact #2: One in three business owners in Canada is an immigrant

Immigrants make up nearly a third of all entrepreneurs in Canada. Federal data shows that immigrants make up 32 percent of all business owners with paid staff in Canada. That means roughly one in three employers creating jobs in this country is an immigrant.

Some other numbers worth noting:

• Over 800,000 immigrants in Canada are self-employed
• More than 250,000 of those entrepreneurs have employees
• More than 46,000 immigrants hold senior management roles across the country

These businesses exist across many industries, including construction, healthcare, retail, and professional services. For newcomers considering entrepreneurship, this data confirms something many already feel on the ground: immigrant entrepreneurship is a major part of Canada’s economy.

Fact #3: Many economic immigrants earn above the Canadian median

There’s a common assumption that immigrants struggle financially for many years after arrival. But – the data shows a different picture.

Economic principal applicants, particularly those selected through programs like Express Entry, often earn employment income that reaches or exceeds the Canadian median relatively quickly.

For example, data from 2022 shows:

• Economic principal applicants earned about $52,400 in their first year, rising to around $63,500 after ten years.
• Canadian Experience Class principal applicants reached earnings above $70,000 within a few years and often much higher over time.
• Skilled workers and provincial nominees also showed strong earnings growth compared to broader immigrant averages.

It’s important to note that not all immigrant groups experience the same outcomes. Spouses, dependents, refugees, and family-sponsored immigrants often earn less on average, especially early on.

Still, the trend is clear: Canada’s economic immigration streams are designed to select workers who can integrate quickly into the labour market, and many do.

Fact #4: Immigrants play major roles in Canada’s essential sectors

If you look at some of the industries Canadians rely on every day, immigrants represent a significant share of the workforce.

Here are just a few examples from recent government data:

• Transportation: 34 percent
• Food service: 33 percent
• Professional, scientific and technical services: 34 percent
• Construction: 20 percent
• Healthcare: 25 percent

Healthcare offers a strong example of how vital immigrants are. In healthcare, immigrants make up:

• 25 percent of registered nurses
• 42 percent of nurse aides and related occupations
• 43 percent of pharmacists
• 37 percent of physicians
• 45 percent of dentists

Immigrants are also heavily represented in STEM fields. While immigrants make up 23 percent of the overall population, they account for roughly half of all STEM degree holders in Canada.

Fact #5: Immigrants still face a slightly higher unemployment rate

While the data is largely positive, there are still gaps. Immigrants aged 25 to 54 participate in the labour market at slightly lower rates than Canadian-born workers, and their unemployment rate remains higher overall.

Some key figures:

• Unemployment rate (Canadian-born): 7.7 percent
• Unemployment rate (immigrants): 9.9 percent

The gap is especially noticeable among immigrant women, whose employment and participation rates are lower than both Canadian-born women and immigrant men.

That said, immigrant men in this age group slightly outperform Canadian-born men in employment rates. This highlights how outcomes can vary widely depending on gender, industry, and immigration pathway.

One important takeaway here is that integration into the Canadian labour market is not equal across all groups, and barriers still exist, especially for women.

Final takeaway: Immigrants are an essential part of Canada

The numbers tell a very clear story: Immigrants are essential to Canada’s workforce growth. They run businesses, fill critical roles in healthcare and transportation, and contribute heavily to innovation-based industries.

At the same time, challenges remain. Employment outcomes vary depending on immigration category, gender, and access to opportunities.

For newcomers, this should be encouraging and realistic at the same time. Canada’s labour market relies heavily on immigration, but success often comes from understanding where the opportunities are and how the system works.

And with a new census coming in 2026, we’ll soon have an even clearer picture of how the newcomer workforce is evolving.

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