*ECONOMIC impact of emigration & immigration, *IMMIGRANTS, *JOB qualifications, *EMPLOYABILITY, *INCOME distribution -- Social aspects, CANADIAN economy, 1991-
Abstract
One of the reasons often provided for the salary gap between immigrants and native-born Canadians is the difficulty experienced by many immigrants in securing recognition for skills acquired overseas. In this paper, we examine the extent to which, after arrival, immigrants find jobs in the same occupations in which they were employed in their home countries. We also examine the effect on earnings of a match between the pre- and post-immigration occupations. The data come from the longitudinal survey "Établissement des nouveaux immigrants" which followed a cohort of immigrants who arrived in 1989. Our results suggest that most recent immigrants move into a new occupation when they arrive in Canada and that those whose pre- and post-immigration occupations match tend to earn more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]