Getting Started in our Community

London is home to a relatively large multicultural and multilingual population. Our population is made up of almost 22% of foreign born residents and of this, 16% have made London their home over the past five years. Getting started in a new community, a new culture and a new country can be challenging. Accessible employment, adequate job training and learning a new language are a major undertaking for many newcomers.

Key Report Findings (click to expand)

• Immigration
  • As published in the 2006 Snapshot of London’s Children and Youth , the London Cross Cultural Learning Centre reported:
    • • London has the highest per capita population of refugees in Canada and receives approximately 2,000 immigrants each year.
    • • The London Cross Cultural Learning Centre provided service to nearly 3,400 immigrants who represented 107 countries.
    • • Colombia was the most common country of origin, followed by China and India.
    • • Over one quarter of the nearly 2,000 immigrants in 2003 were children aged 0 to 16; among those 17 years of age and over, 30% had little or no English and/or French ability.
  • Source: Courtesy of London Cross Cultural Learning Centre.
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• Migration
  • On a net basis (gross inflow minus outflows) London gained 2,511 people due to international migration. Overall, London gained 3,137 people when accounting for intraprovincial, interprovincial and international migration which represented an increase of 0.68% in total population.
  • Migration in London CMA, 2005

  • 	International Migration			Total
    	In migration	Out migration	Net	In migration	Out migration	Net
    London	3,223	712	2,511	17,752	14,615	3,137

  • Source: Statistics Canada.

    Related Articles:
    Table VI-1-a: Net Migration in Vital Signs Communities, 2001 and 2006
    Table VI-1-b: Migration in Vital Signs CMAs, 2004
    Appendix Table VI-1-b-i: Intra-Provincial Migration in Vital Signs CMAs, 2000-2005
    Appendix Table VI-1-b-ii: Interprovincial Migration in Vital Signs Communities CMAs, 2000-2005
    Appendix Table VI-1-b-iii: International Migration in Vital Signs Communities CMAs, 2000-2005
    

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• Income
  • The median total family income of recent immigrants (arrived between 2001 and 2004) in 2005 in London was $43,157, up 15.6% from $37,332 in 2000 (in 2005 dollars). In 2005, the median income of recent immigrants was 41.0% lower than the median income of non-immigrants, compared to 46.9% lower in 2000.
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  • Table VI-3-a: Average Total Income for Economic Families by Immigrant Status and Period, for Vital Signs CMAs and CAs, 2000 and 2005 (2005 Dollars)
    Table VI-3-b: Total Income for Economic Families by Immigrant Status and Period, for Vital Signs CMAs and CAs, 2000 and 2005 (2005 Dollars)
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• Unemployment Rate
  • In 2006, the unemployment rate of recent immigrants (i.e. entered the country within the last five years) was 12.4% in London, 107% above the non-immigrant rate. The unemployment rate of recent immigrants was down from 19.3% in 2001 (201.6% above the non-immigrant rate), (as of July 11th).
  • Unemployment Rate of Immigrants and Non-Immigrants in London CMA, Ontario and Canada 1996, 2001 and 2006

  • 	Non-immigrant population			Entered country 6 to 10 years ago			Entered country within the last 5 years
    Canada	9.9	7.4	6.4	13.4	9.2	8.4	18.0	12.7	12.3
    Ontario	8.6	5.9	6.2	12.8	8.5	8.6	17.9	11.8	11.9
    London	8.9	6.4	6.0	15.8	10.0	10.3	21.0	19.3	12.4
    	1996
    	2001
    	2006

     

    	Unemployment rate of immigrants as a ratio of the non-immigrant unemployment rate
    	Entered country 6 to 10 years ago			Entered country within the last 5 years
    Canada	135.4	124.3	131.3	181.8	171.6	192.2
    Ontario	148.8	144.1	138.7	208.1	200.0	191.9
    London	177.5	156.3	171.7	236.0	301.6	206.7
    	1996
    	2001
    	2006

  • Source: Statistics Canada.

    Related Articles:
    Table VI-2-a: Unemployment Rate of Immigrants and Non-Immigrants in Vital Signs Communities, 1996 and 2001
    Appendix Table VI-2-a-i: Unemployment Rate of Immigrants for Vital Signs Communities, 1996
    Appendix Table VI-2-a-ii: Unemployment Rate of Immigrants for Vital Signs Communities, 2001
    Appendix Table VI-2-a-iii: Unemployment Rate of Immigrants for Vital Signs Communities, 2006
    

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LOCAL LINKS

WIL Employment Connections
http://www.wil.ca

Community Services and Programs for Immigrants, Refugees and Newcomers in London
http://www.info.london.on.ca/community_services.asp

Immigrants, Newcomers and Ethnocultural Communities
http://www.info.london.on.ca/cat.asp?cid=49

London Cross Cultural Learning Centre
http://www.lcclc.org/home.htm

LUSO Community Services
http://www.lusocentre.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=27

London Employment Help Centre
http://www.lehc.ca/

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada
http://www.londony.ca/linc.html

Point. Click. Immigrate.
http://welcome.london.ca/

If you have relevant data that helps us understand the issues that shape our community, please contact us to have it linked to this page.