Immigrants losing ground relative to Canadian-born counterparts
The proportion of Canadians who earned more than $100,000 has nearly doubled from 1980 to 2005, according to Statistics Canada.
New data from the 2006 census shows 3.4 per cent of Canadians working full time in 1980 earned $100,000 (in 2005 constant dollars). This proportion rose to 6.5 per cent in 2005.
During that 25-year time frame, median earnings among the top 20 per cent of earners increased by 16.4 per cent. On the other end of the spectrum, earnings among those in the bottom one-fifth of the spectrum fell 20.6 per cent. Earnings for those in the middle remained relatively unchanged.
Immigrants also fared worse in 2005 than in 1985, compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. In 1980, recent immigrant men earned 85 cents for each dollar earned by Canadian-born men. That ratio dropped to 63 cents in 2005. The corresponding ratio for immigrant women was 85 cents and 56 cents, respectively.
Couples with children had the highest median family income at $82,943, up 21.6 per cent from 1980. Couples without children had a median family income of $59,834, up 14.6 per cent from 1980.
Sources of income
Employment earnings accounted for $78 of every $100 of income earned in 2005, down from $84 in 1980. Government transfer payments, such as Old Age Security, employment insurance benefits, child benefits and GST credits accounted for $9.90 of every $100 earned.
Investment income represented $4.20 and retirement income sources accounted for $5.90, a two-fold increase from $2.30 in 1980.
New data from the 2006 census shows 3.4 per cent of Canadians working full time in 1980 earned $100,000 (in 2005 constant dollars). This proportion rose to 6.5 per cent in 2005.
During that 25-year time frame, median earnings among the top 20 per cent of earners increased by 16.4 per cent. On the other end of the spectrum, earnings among those in the bottom one-fifth of the spectrum fell 20.6 per cent. Earnings for those in the middle remained relatively unchanged.
Immigrants also fared worse in 2005 than in 1985, compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. In 1980, recent immigrant men earned 85 cents for each dollar earned by Canadian-born men. That ratio dropped to 63 cents in 2005. The corresponding ratio for immigrant women was 85 cents and 56 cents, respectively.
Couples with children had the highest median family income at $82,943, up 21.6 per cent from 1980. Couples without children had a median family income of $59,834, up 14.6 per cent from 1980.
Sources of income
Employment earnings accounted for $78 of every $100 of income earned in 2005, down from $84 in 1980. Government transfer payments, such as Old Age Security, employment insurance benefits, child benefits and GST credits accounted for $9.90 of every $100 earned.
Investment income represented $4.20 and retirement income sources accounted for $5.90, a two-fold increase from $2.30 in 1980.
