Provincial analysis of the representation of immigrants among professional artists, arts leaders, and all cultural workers

The percentages of immigrant artists and cultural workers (and comparisons with the overall labour force) vary significantly across Canada

Aug 27, 2024

∙ Paid

Two weeks ago, I noted that 21% of Canada’s professional artists are immigrants to the country, as are 18% of the nation’s arts leaders and 23% of its cultural workers. All of these percentages are at least slightly below the percentage of all Canadian workers who are immigrants (25%).

Today, I analyze provincial and territorial data on the number and percentage of immigrants in the same groupings of occupations (professional artists, arts leaders, workers in cultural occupations, and all workers), based on data from the 2021 census.

Next week, I will examine similarities and differences in income statistics for immigrants and non-immigrants in each province and in the territories.

Notes regarding methods are provided at the end of this post.

Representation of immigrant artists by province and region

As shown in the following graph, immigrants to Canada account for the largest proportion of all artists in British Columbia (28%) and Ontario (25%), followed by the Prairies (15%), Quebec (also 15%), the Atlantic provinces (11%), and the three territories (8%).

However, compared with the overall labour force, the graph shows that the Atlantic provinces have a relatively high proportion of immigrant artists (11% of artists vs. 7% of all workers). In every other province or region, the proportion of artists who are immigrants is below the equivalent percentage in the overall labour force.

Bar graph of immigrants as a percentage of artists and all workers by province or region, 2021 census. Territories: Artists, 8%; All workers, 13%. Atlantic: Artists, 11%; All workers, 7%. Quebec: Artists, 15%; All workers, 17%. Ontario: Artists, 25%; All workers, 33%. Prairies: Artists, 15%; All workers, 24%. British Columbia: Artists, 28%; All workers, 31%. Canada: Artists, 21%; All workers, 25%. Note: The census counts people in the occupation in which they worked the most hours in early May, 2021. If they did not work that week, they are classified into the occupation of longest duration since January 1, 2020. Source: 2021 census, custom data request by Hill Strategies.

The rest of today’s (very long) article contains an analysis of the number and proportion of immigrant workers in each province (not just by region, as above) and in the three territories (as a group, due to concerns over data reliability in each territory).

Statistics for four groupings of occupations are presented: professional artists, arts leaders, all workers in cultural occupations, and all workers.

Provincial analysis of the representation of immigrants among professional artists, arts leaders, and all cultural workers

The percentages of immigrant artists and cultural workers (and comparisons with the overall labour force) vary significantly across Canada

Representation of immigrant artists by province and region

Details of immigrant artists, arts leaders, and cultural workers in each province and in the three territories

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