How Different Immigrant Communities Weathered the Pandemic
Young Immigrants' Education and Employment Changed During Pandemic, Shows New Data
Recent statistics reveal dramatic shifts in how young immigrants in London participated in work and school during COVID-19, with some communities showing surprising resilience patterns.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0648-01 Youth not in education, employment or training by visible minority, selected sociodemographic characteristics and the census year: Canada, geographical regions of Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts
The pandemic created unprecedented challenges for young people trying to work or study in London. New data from Statistics Canada shows how these challenges varied across different immigrant communities, upending some common assumptions about who might be most affected.
The numbers tell a striking story: In 2016, about 13% of Londoners in their twenties were not in employment, education, or training (known as the NEET rate). By 2021, this number jumped to 18% - likely due to pandemic disruptions. However, the impact was felt differently across all groups.
Perhaps most surprisingly, while racialised immigrants had the highest NEET rate (17%) in 2016, by 2021, it was young White immigrants who faced the highest rate at 23%. This significant shift suggests the pandemic disrupted traditional employment and education access patterns.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0648-01 Youth not in education, employment or training by visible minority, selected sociodemographic characteristics and the census year: Canada, geographical regions of Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/9810064801-eng (Note: The NEET for Japanese immigrants is 0, possibly due to very few Japanese immigrants aged 20-29.)
Some communities showed remarkable resilience during this period. Korean immigrant youth maintained the lowest NEET rate at just 7%, while Chinese immigrant youth had the second-lowest at 14%. These numbers point to potential lessons about community support systems and educational engagement worth investigating.
Other communities faced more significant challenges. Young Black, Arab, Southeast Asian, and West Asian immigrants all experienced NEET rates of 20% or higher. These statistics highlight the need for targeted support programs that address specific barriers different communities might face.
Among Canadian-born youth, similar patterns emerged. Those from Chinese (9%) and Korean (8%) backgrounds maintained the lowest NEET rates. At the same time, Black, Latin American and Southeast Asian youth had higher rates than White Canadian-born youth (19%).
The data raises important questions for London's settlement sector:
What factors helped some communities maintain lower NEET rates during the pandemic?
How can successful approaches be adapted to help other groups?
What specific barriers do different communities face?
How can employment and education programs be better tailored to meet diverse needs?
Looking closer at the numbers:
The overall NEET rate increased by 5% between 2016 and 2021
Rates varied significantly among different racialised populations.
Some communities showed particular resilience despite pandemic challenges.
Japanese immigrants showed a 0% NEET rate, though researchers note this might reflect the small size of this community in London.
These findings come at a crucial time as London's immigrant youth population continues to grow. They highlight the need for targeted support programs recognising different immigrant communities' unique challenges and strengths.
You can see the Matter of Facts report here.