VII. Conclusion
• Age at landing affects income later in life.
Long-term elders had the highest incidence of private market income and the lowest
incidence of public market income throughout the entire observation period. Elderly
immigrants in this group also had the lowest incidence of income from non-contributory
retirement sources. Long-term elders also reported the highest annual incomes of all three
elderly groups.
Short-term elders and immediate elders had very similar income situations, especially
following the 10-year mark; however, an age at landing effect was still apparent. Short-term
elders had a higher incidence of employment earnings and a lower incidence of provincial
supplements prior to the 10-year mark. They also reported a higher annual income than
immediate elders in the first 10 years after landing. At the 10-year mark both groups began a
noticeable transition from market income to retirement income. Incidence of private market
income fell while the incidence of non-contributory retirement income rose dramatically.
Although this transition to retirement income occurred for both groups, it was more gradual
for short-term elders.
• Immigrant category affects income later in life.
Skilled Principal Applicants relied more heavily on private market income throughout the
first twenty years after landing. They had the highest incidence of employment earnings and
an incidence of provincial supplements that was well below the overall average. Skilled
Principal Applicants also reported the highest annual income and were less reliant on income
from non-contributory retirement sources.
Skilled Spouses and Dependents also had a higher than average incidence of employment
earnings and a very low incidence of provincial supplements throughout the period. However,
the average employment earnings reported were not as high as those observed for Skilled
Principal Applicants. Skilled Spouses and Dependents also had a lower annual income but it
was still higher than the average for all elderly immigrants. With respect to retirement
income, elders in this category had the lowest incidence of OAS and the second lowest
incidence of GIS/Allowance.
Other Economic immigrants, similar to the skilled economic categories, had a higher
incidence of private market income and a lower incidence of provincial supplements than was
observed on average. However, elders in this category did not appear to rely as much on
employment earnings. Instead, Other Economic immigrants had the second highest incidence
of investment income. They also reported annual income comparable to that of Skilled
Spouses and Dependents. Elderly immigrants in this category had a higher incidence of OAS
than those in the skilled economic categories but it remained lower than the overall average.
Although the incidence of OAS was higher, this was not the case for GIS/Allowance. Other
Economic immigrants had the lowest incidence of GIS/Allowance of all immigrant
categories.