“Recent immigrants bring the skills,
knowledge and experience needed
to support York Region’s goal of
creating an innovative and
adaptive economy.”1
Social Enterprise
for Canada
YORK REGION FACT SHEET
The Importance of Immigrant Labour Market Integration for Businesses, the Local Economy and Society in the York
Region Area
YORK REGION’S POPULATION AND RATE OF GROWTH


York Region’s population is the fastest growing in all of Ontario and is growing at a rate of almost 3 times that of the
province as a whole.2 The large majority of this growth has occurred in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan.3
At the end of 2007, the population of York Region was estimated to be 983,056. By 2031, the population is expected
to reach 1.5 million.4
IMMIGRATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO YORK REGION’S POPULATION AND GROWTH



Much of the population growth in York Region has been a result of immigration. Between 2001 and 2006, York
Region saw a 22% increase in its population (or 163,458 people). 60% of this growth (or 96,735 people) resulted from
immigration.5
Nearly half of the growth from immigration has been from recent immigrants, or immigrants who have lived in Canada
for 5 years or less.
In 2006, 380,500 immigrants called York Region their home and they comprised 43% of the total population of the
region. This was a 3% increase from 2001, when immigrants comprised only 40% of the population. In Richmond
Hill and Markham, over 50% of the population is non-Canadian born.6
THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMIGRANT LABOUR MARKET INTEGRATION IN YORK REGION
Contribution to the economy


1
The growth in population has been critical to York Region’s economic prosperity, as it has produced increased
consumer demand for products and services and more skilled workers.7
Immigrants are also valuable to York Region’s ability to compete on domestic and international levels. Immigrants in
York Region speak a variety of languages and represent more than 200 different ethnic groups.8
The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. (2005)., as cited by The Regional Municipality of York. (2006). Community
Snapshots: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region. Newmarket, Ontario, p 14.
2
The Ontario Trillium Foundation. (2010). Community Profile: Simcoe-York. Retrieved online from
http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/Your_Community_in_Profile/english/region_highlight/simcoey.html
3
An Economic Profile of York Region. Chapter 3. (2007). Retrieved online from
http://www.york.ca/business/economic+profile/economic_profile_chapter3.htm
4
Ibid.
5
Just the Facts about your Community: Diversity of Residents Living in York Region. Retrieved online from www.york.ca/yrcsd
6
Ibid.
7
An Economic Profile of York Region. Chapter 3. (2007). Retrieved online from
http://www.york.ca/business/economic+profile/economic_profile_chapter3.htm
8
Just the Facts about your Community: Languages of residents living in York Region. Retrieved online from www.york.ca/yrcsd; The
Regional Municipality of York, Ontario. (2010). Newcomer Services. Retrieved online from http://www.yorkwelcome.ca


Generally, immigrants to Canada are between the ages of 25 and 44 and, thus, of an age where they could participate in
the labour force and contribute to the economy.9
It is common for immigrants to be well-educated and highly-skilled. According to Statistics Canada (2006), 51% of
recent immigrants have a University degree, compared with only 19% of the overall Canadian population.10
Replacing future shortages in workers



1/3rd of the population of York Region (and Ontario) is considered of the Baby Boomer generation and will retire in the
coming years.11
It has been estimated that by 2011, 100% of Canada’s net labour growth will come from immigration.12
Immigration and immigrant labour market integration will be crucial in replacing the retiring work force and
contributing to the local economy.
The Importance of Immigrant Labour Market Integration for SMEs in York Region

SMEs play a large role in York Region’s economy:
o “According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the majority of jobs, roughly 70 %,
are created in the small to medium enterprise (SME’s) sector. SME’s are the majority of the businesses in York
Region. To extrapolate this percentage in York Region, that translates to approximately 325,000 jobs across
28,000 businesses!”13

A recent Canadian Federation of Independent Business Report indicated that 68% of small businesses predict that a
labour shortage will worsen over time.14
SMEs often have fewer resources than larger companies to facilitate integration of IEPs into their businesses; thus, they
may experience the effects of a labour shortage more heavily.

___________________________
 Rapid integration of recent immigrants into the labour market is especially important for municipalities that have a
large proportion of recent immigrants. A mismatch between numbers of new immigrants and immigrant employment
rates can have a significant impact on communities in terms of economic growth, quality of life and costs of
community social assistance.
 “Immigration has contributed to Canada’s growth as a nation and will play a key role in building the Canada of
tomorrow, addressing future labour market and demographic needs, and supporting the country’s international role and
geopolitical presence. Looking to the future, more successful and well-integrated newcomers in all parts of Canada are
key to nation building and to our economic prosperity.”15
9
Just the Facts about your Community: Diversity of Residents Living in York Region. Retrieved online from www.york.ca/yrcsd
Statistics Canada. Educational Portrait of Canada, Census 2006. Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 2008, as cited by Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada.
11 York South Simcoe Training and Adjustment Board. TOP Report 2008. Retrieved online from
http://www.wpboard.ca/english/pdfs/YSSTAB%202008%20TOP%20Report%20Final.pdf
12
Just the Facts about your Community: Diversity of Residents Living in York Region. Retrieved online from www.york.ca/yrcsd
13
York South Simcoe Training and Adjustment Board. TOP Report 2008. Retrieved online from
http://www.wpboard.ca/english/pdfs/YSSTAB%202008%20TOP%20Report%20Final.pdf
14
Ibid.
15
The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration (2005), as cited by The Regional Municipality of York. (2006). Community
Snapshots: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region. Newmarket, Ontario, p 14.
10