Current Research

Wage Opportunities of Visible Minorities in Canada (with Wayne Simpson)

The wage opportunities afforded different racial groups vary considerably. Furthermore, immigrants to Canada are increasingly visible minorities. We present a new analysis of wage offer differentials for different visible minority groups in Canada which also accounts for immigration status, using the first wave of the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics.

With the exception of Black men, we find no statistically significant wage disadvantage for visible minorities who are native born. It is primarily among immigrants that wage differentials for visible minority membership exist. Our results suggest that policies to achieve a colour-blind Canadian labour market may have to focus more on immigrant assistance and less on traditional employment equity legislation.

Several papers have been published, and research is ongoing.

Back to Current Research