Grant: Operating Grant

By 2031, more than 1 in 2 Canadians aged 15 and over will be immigrants, and Asians will comprise the largest proportion of all immigrants. The socio-cultural and economic integration of immigrants has an increasingly large impact on the health and well-being of the Canadian population. Although a growing number of immigrants have turned to self-employment or micro business ownership, there has been virtually no research on the psychosocial factors affecting the health of self-employed immigrants or immigrant micro business owners. Considering that micro businesses account for more than 50% of Canadian businesses and generate over 25% of all jobs in Canada, it is important to determine factors that affect the health of micro business owners, especially among immigrants. Immigrant micro business owners typically manage heavy workloads and endure high levels of physical and mental labour without receiving extra health care benefits or pensions. In the proposed study, the health of immigrant micro-business owners will be examined by comparing micro business ownership to paid employment. The findings of the study will be used to suggest bases for further research on the health implications of other types of self-employment among immigrants.