Proof Point: Canada is failing to put immigrant skills to work
Few nations are more successful at luring immigrants than Canada. When emigration is taken into consideration, there were approximately 8 migrants on average for every 1,000 Canadians between 2010 and 2019. That is the highest level among the G7 nations and is a lot higher than the United States, which held the top net migration rate a few decades ago.
2020 saw a significant slowdown in Canadian immigration as a result of several COVID-related issues. But it has made a strong recovery since the pandemic. In 2021, increased immigration accounted for over 90% of all population growth. By 2050, Statistics Canada projects that to be 100%. Only immigration will be able to make up for population ageing and declining birth rates.
These immigrants are bringing vital skills in the face of ongoing workforce shortages. In fact, more than half of the 1.5 million immigrants that the federal government plans to recruit over the next three years will be from countries of economic migration. When compared to the US or the UK, this share is significantly higher.
