Survey results from the city’s Succeed and Stay Program show Saint John is more diverse than ever before.
The 83-question survey had responses from over 700 immigrants to Saint John, who represent 98 different countries, and speak 63 different languages.
David Dobbelsteyn, manager of population growth for the city, says they hope the new numbers will spark community conversation.
“We’re really trying to get a better grasp on what newcomers succeed and what newcomers also stay in Saint John long-term,” he said,
“What do we as a city and as a community need to do to be more welcoming to newcomers, how do we make sure they integrate and stay long-term, and how do we create a more welcoming atmosphere for anyone who wants to move to the city?”
Dobbelsteyn says the survey results show newcomers aren’t so different from us.
“They’re people with hopes and families and dreams, children. They want a future for their kids and for themselves and they want to contribute to their new homes and their new communities. In many cases, they do have the same issues and same struggles that Canadian-born residents have,” he said.
While finding a job was the biggest struggle reported in the survey, around 48 per cent of newcomers found work within three months of moving to the city.
Dobbelsteyn says there are a number of other highlights from the survey: 96 per cent of respondents ages 19 to 34 live in the city, and 60.5 per cent say they intend to stay in Saint John long-term.
He says immigrants coming to the city are highly educated. 71 per cent are university graduates, compared to 19 per cent of the general population in Saint John.
“Newcomers are net contributors. They become tax-paying citizens very, very quickly. They’re net contributors to jobs. We have a lot of newcomers who are entrepreneurs, who are actually creating jobs,” he said.
The survey found 60 per cent of respondents arrived within the last three years. 50 per cent came through economic streams like universities or job recruitment, while 51 per cent connected through settlement agencies.
The most important amenities for newcomers are parks and green spaces, access to waterfronts, and malls/shops.
Dobbelsteyn says a full report will come back to council in the spring. He says the results will help the city make informed policy decisions, and in turn, grow the population.
