This document provides demographic data from the 2006 Canadian Census about West Asian communities in Toronto, comparing indicators to citywide averages. It finds that West Asians have higher rates of immigration, lower English proficiency, higher unemployment and poverty. The largest ethnic origins are Iranian, Afghan, and Turk. Post-secondary attainment is higher but credentials are more likely from abroad. Labor participation is lower for females. Occupations differ with more small business ownership and management roles for males, and health/social services for females. Government transfers provide a larger source of income recognition that West Asian groups face social challenges.

1. 1
ABOUT THE DATA
West Asian is a category created by Statistics Canada
under the Employment Equity Act to identify “persons
other than Aboriginal people’s who are non-Caucasian
in race or non-white in colour.” This information is
collected “to support programs which promote equal
opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural
and economic life of Canada.” Sometimes referred to
as ‘visible minorities’, the Ontario Human Rights
Commission prefers the term ‘racialized groups’
recognizing that these groups are socially constructed
rather than genetically determined. Statistics Canada
produced custom cross tabulations for these population
groups which were used to produce these profiles.
Additional profiles in this series were produced for
Ethnic Origins and Place of Birth groups that also
include West Asian communities including Afghan,
Iranian and Turk communities. Ethnic origins includes
simple and multiple responses so the total West Asian
for Ethnic Origins (73,035) is larger than the total ‘West
Asian Population Group’ (42,760) profiled by Statistics
Canada. Detailed definitions of the indicators used in
this profile are described in a separate document.
“Immigrants” (persons granted the right to live
permanently in Canada) does not include refugee
claimants – these are included under “Non Permanent
Residents” along with other temporary residents such
as people on work or student visas.
HIGHLIGHTS (differences of 20% or more)
The West Asian community is higher (by 20% or more)
than the city average for: % of the population who are
Immigrants including Recent and Non-Recent (10 years
and over); % not Canadian citizens, % without
Knowledge of English, and % who do not speak English
at home. With a higher rate of post secondary education
(with credentials more likely to be earned outside of
Canada), West Asians overall had a higher
Unemployment Rate, and higher poverty (% Low
Income). Others to be added by Ashitava after
significance testing (z-tests)
POPULATION in HOUSEHOLDS (% )
West Asian Toronto
Total (#) 42,760 2,476,565
Males 50.7 48.2
Females 49.2 51.8
Non Permanent Res. 1.8 2.2
Non Immigrants 12.6 47.8
Immigrants 85.6 50.0
Recent:
- 5 Yr 2001-2006 34.0 10.8
- 10 Yr 1996-2006 56.9 18.4
Non-Recent:
- 10+ Years 28.6 31.5
Not Canadian Citizens 27.1 15.3
POPULATION by AGE GROUP (%)
DIVERSITY: ETHNIC ORIGINS OF WEST ASIANS (%)
West Asian Origins (Single & Multiple) (#) 73,035
Iranian 40.2
Afghan 20.7
Turk 12.9
Armenian 12.7
Israeli 3.7
Others: Armenian, Azerbaijani, Kurd, Georgian, etc.
SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES (%)
West Asian Toronto
Single Parent Families 21.3 20.3
- % are Female Led 83.7 84.6
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH (%)
West Asian Toronto
‘Other’ used most at home (all) 69.5 31.7
‘Other’ most at home Age 65+ 85.7 39.2
Do not understand English (all) 8.5 5.4
- All Males 6.3 4.4
- All Females 10.7 6.3
- All Age 65 44.6 15.9
West Asian Communities, City of Toronto, 2006

2. 2
Comparative Analysis of Education, Employment, Occupational Categories and Income
Indicators West Asian Toronto
All M F All M F
EDUCATION (AGE 25-64): % of persons
Highest Level of Education - University Degree-64) 40.2 42.9 37.3 37.4 38.3 36.5
- Masters, PhD, MD, etc 16.7 19.5 13.8 14.8 15.9 13.8
Any Post secondary Certificate Diploma or Degree 64.5 66.4 62.5 66.4 66.8 66.2
- Earned Post Secondary Credentials Abroad 66.7 67.8 65.4 35.2 36.2 34.2
IN THE LABOUR FORCE (AGE 25-64): % of persons
Labor Force Participation (Employed or Looking for Work) 67.5 78.6 55.8 79.9 85.9 74.4
- Unemployment Rate 10.6 8.8 13.2 6.3 5.6 7.0
OCCUPATION TYPE: % OF EMPLOYED PERSONS, (AGE 25-64)
Management 12.0 14.7 7.8 11.6 13.5 9.7
Business, Finance and Administrative 13.7 9.8 19.8 20.9 14.2 28.1
Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport 11.3 14.3 6.7 8.8 12.8 4.4
Health 6.0 2.7 11.3 5.3 2.6 8.3
Social Science, Education, Government Service and Religion 8.2 5.0 13.2 10.2 6.8 13.8
Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport 2.4 1.7 3.4 5.2 5.1 5.3
Sales and Service 25.8 22.4 31.0 19.2 17.1 21.5
Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related 13.9 22.4 1.0 10.5 18.8 1.7
Unique to Primary Industry 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.2
Unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities 6.1 6.5 5.5 7.7 8.3 7.0
INCOME SOURCES: % of TOTAL INCOME OF THOSE WITH INCOME (AGE 15 AND OVER)
Market income 83.8 88.4 77.2 90.8 93.6 86.8
Wages and salaries 70 72 67 69 71 67
Self-employment income 7 10 4 8 10 5
Investment income, Retirement Income, Other money income 7 7 7 13 12 15
Government transfer payments (Total) 16.2 11.6 22.8 9.2 6.4 13.2
Old Age Security pensions and Guaranteed Income Supplement 2 1 3 3 2 4
Canada/Quebec Pension Plan benefits 1 1 1 3 2 3
Child benefits 4 0 9 1 0 2
Employment Insurance benefits 2 1 2 1 1 1
Other (Social Assistance, Disability, etc.) 8 8 8 2 2 3
INCOME LEVEL (AGE 15 AND ABOVE)
Total Persons in Low Income Households (Incomes below Statistics Canada Low Income Cut-Off, spending at least 20% more than average
on shelter, food, clothing)
- Before Tax (%) 53.8 52.6 55.1 24.5 23.5 25.5
- After Tax (%) 45.3 43.8 47.0 19.4 18.7 20.1
No Income (Age 15+) (%) 9.9 8.1 11.7 5.6 5.1 6.0
Average Income (Age 15+) ($) 21026 23842 18007 40376 49387 32125
Median Income (Age 15+) ($) 12791 14529 11307 24544 28800 21153
Income Tax Paid (% of Total Income) 13.0 14.7 10.7 20.5 23.2 16.4
West Asian Communities, City of Toronto, 2006
All data is for the City of Toronto, 2006. Sources:Statistics
Canada 2006 Census Profile,Catalogue #s 97-564-
XCB2006007;EO1601_Table_2/07/2010.January/2011
Prepared by: K La O, D Patychuk & A Halder. Funded by:
Steps to Equity, the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport
(for Intohealth Toronto) and Access Alliance MHCS.
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