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The Effect of Pre-immigration Canadian Work Experience on the Returns to Human Capital Among Immigrants

Author

Listed:
  • Garnett Picot

    (Research and Evaluation Branch, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)

  • Feng Hou

    (Social Analysis and Modelling Division, Statistics Canada)

Abstract

This paper examines whether pre-immigration Canadian work experience improves the economic returns to human capital among immigrants. Unlike some previous studies that treat immigrants with Canadian work experience as a homogenous group, this study distinguishes those with high pre-immigration Canadian earnings from those with low pre-immigration Canadian earnings. Based on the analysis of the Longitudinal Immigration Database, this study finds that among economic principal applicants who were admitted to Canada from 2000 to 2015, the economic returns to both education and foreign work experience were significantly higher for economic immigrants with high pre-immigration Canadian earnings than for those with low pre-immigration Canadian earnings—and in particular, those with no pre-immigration Canadian work experience. This result was observed after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, and held in the short, medium and long run after landing. The result also held among economic immigrants from both developed Western countries and developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Garnett Picot & Feng Hou, 2023. "The Effect of Pre-immigration Canadian Work Experience on the Returns to Human Capital Among Immigrants," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 661-679, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:24:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s12134-023-01025-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-023-01025-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ana Ferrer & W. Craig Riddell, 2008. "Education, credentials, and immigrant earnings," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 41(1), pages 186-216, February.
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    6. Feng Hou & Garnett Picot, 2016. "Changing Immigrant Characteristics and Pre-Landing Canadian Earnings: Their Effect on Entry Earnings over the 1990s and 2000s," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 42(3), pages 308-323, September.
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    10. Monica Boyd & Siyue Tian, 2018. "Is STEM Education Portable? Country of Education and the Economic Integration of STEM Immigrants," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 965-1003, November.
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