TORONTO, ON — Canada is losing the very people we need the most. A new report from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) and the Conference Board of Canada, The Leaky Bucket 2025: Retention Challenges in Highly Skilled Immigrants and In-Demand Occupations, finds that immigrants continue to leave Canada at near-record rates, with highly educated and highly skilled immigrants leaving Canada at twice the rate of those with less education and lower skills.
The study, the third in ICC’s Leaky Bucket series, uses 40 years of data to uncover that one in five immigrants leave Canada within 25 years, with the highest losses occurring just five years after arrival.
“Canada wins when talented people choose to play for our team,” said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. “But this research shows that too many of the people we most need – engineers, healthcare professionals, scientists, and senior managers – are packing up and leaving. They can only contribute to Canada’s success if we can keep them and their talents in the country.”
Key Findings
One in five immigrants leave Canada within 25 years of landing. Highly educated immigrants are leaving faster: those with doctorates are nearly twice as likely to leave as those with a bachelor’s degree.
High-skilled immigrants leave at twice the rate of low-skilled workers within the first five years.
The fastest-growing occupations which have the greatest labour needs face the weakest retention rates: business and finance managers, ICT professionals, engineers, and architecture managers show the highest departure rates.
Earnings growth matters: immigrants with low income growth are far more likely to leave: among doctorate-holders, those with stagnant incomes are nearly three times more likely than those whose incomes grow while in Canada.
Atlantic Canada faces the greatest retention challenge, with more immigrants leaving from the region than anywhere else in the country.
Most immigrants leave Canada from the first province they landed in, without giving other provinces a try.
The report paints a troubling picture: Canada’s immigration system is doing a good job of attracting talent, but not keeping it. As immigration levels stabilize and the population ages, losing highly-skilled newcomers comes with real economic costs for all Canadians – slower growth, weaker innovation, and fewer workers in key sectors.
“Reducing immigration while retention declines means we’ll just keep pouring water into the same leaky bucket,” continued Bernhard. “This is a story of profound self-defeat. When the most talented immigrants leave, our needs don’t leave with them.”
The report calls for a national retention strategy to so the immigrants Canada works so hard to attract see fit to stay and contribute long term. It recommends:
A clear national framework to track immigrant retention and set measurable goals. Reformed, modern settlement programs focused on integrating and retaining highly skilled immigrants: licensing reform, bridging improvements, and programs that build belonging and commitment to Canada.
Targeted retention strategies in high-demand occupations such as healthcare, construction, and ICT.
New tools for employers to create welcoming, growth-oriented workplaces that help newcomers succeed and stay.
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is a national charity that works for a Canada where immigrants don’t just come, but stay, become citizens, succeed, and make Canada stronger, richer, and more interesting.
The ICC’s Canoo app gives newcomers and their families free access to Canada’s most sought-after experiences as well as the tools they need to help call Canada home. Since 2010, Canoo has welcomed over 940,000 newcomer members. All recent permanent residents and new citizens can join Canoo for free by downloading the app. For more about the app and the growing list of benefits for Canoo members, please visit https://canoo.ca/.
TORONTO, ON — New research by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), with support from the University of Toronto, finds two simple but powerful factors have the biggest influence on immigrants’ intention to stay in Canada: optimism about the future and a sense of identity and belonging.
With Canada facing declining birth rates, rising immigrant departures, and shrinking admission levels, it has never been more critical to retain the immigrants who are already here. Yet few studies have asked what makes newcomers want to stay.
Optimism about the future is the single strongest driver of immigrant retention: a 1% increase in optimism boosts the likelihood of staying by 28%.
A 1% increase in sense of belonging boosts the likelihood to stay by 25%.
Other important factors include safety & stability (+16%) and trust in Canadian institutions (+14%).
Top reasons for moving to Canada in the first place: standard of living (66%), job opportunities (38%), and safety & security (35%).
The findings show that incremental increases in optimism about the future and a sense of belonging have a profound effect on an immigrant’s likelihood to stay in Canada permanently. “We know immigrants are leaving Canada, but until today, policymakers had very little evidence to guide investments in retention,” said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the ICC.
“We now know where to target limited fiscal resources. Services that give credible hope of a better tomorrow and those that help immigrants feel a strong sense of Canadian identity are proven to drive retention – especially amongst the highest skilled immigrants that government has worked so hard to attract, but who are currently most likely to leave. Talented immigrants cannot build Canada’s economy if they leave. Now we know more about how to persuade them to stay.”
The bottom line: To retain immigrants, investment in belonging, future optimism, and connection to Canada will ensure they choose to build their futures with us.
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is a national charity that works for a Canada where immigrants don’t just come, but stay, become citizens, succeed, and make Canada stronger, richer, and more interesting.
The ICC’s Canoo app gives newcomers and their families free access to Canada’s most sought-after experiences as well as the tools they need to help call Canada home. Since 2010, Canoo has welcomed over 900,000 newcomer members. All recent permanent residents and new citizens can join Canoo by downloading the app for free.
For more about the app and the growing list of benefits for Canoo members, please visit https://canoo.ca/.
Canada is grappling with its most severe housing crisis in generations, requiring an unprecedented 47% increase in construction output to meet demand. We are also facing a stark reality: we cannot build our way out of this crisis without the skilled hands to do the work. While public sentiment toward immigration has grown increasingly skeptical, and federal immigration targets have been reduced, the construction sector tells a different story – one where immigrant workers are not just beneficial, but essential.
The Canadian Construction Association estimates a shortage of 85,500 workers over the next decade, yet immigrants with construction skills represented just 2.4% of new arrivals between 2016 and 2021 – down dramatically from 9.6% in the 1980s. As Mark Carney’s Liberal government pursues ambitious housing plans reminiscent of post-World War II reconstruction efforts, the question for Canadians isn’t whether we need immigrant construction workers, but whether we can afford to turn them away.
The Carney government has released the most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War. The plan aims to double the rate of housing construction in Canada over the next 10 years, reaching 500,000 homes built per year – a big ask considering the coming workforce crisis in the construction industry.
As Baby Boomers age out of the workforce, many sectors in Canada are facing labour shortages. By 2033, an estimated 134,000 residential construction workers will retire. This leaves a massive gap to fill to achieve the rates of construction set out in the Liberal plan. Currently, only 117,000 workers are projected to join the field, resulting in a net loss of 17,000 workers. These numbers don’t account for the additional workers needed to double our construction rate. Certain regions are dealing with especially acute shortages; Nova Scotia alone will face a shortage of 15,000 skilled workers in the next 10 years. Construction companies are already feeling the pressure: the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions found that concerns over finding skilled employees increased in the first quarter of 2025, while in 2023 the construction sector had one of the highest vacancy rates in Canada.
Beyond just increasing our construction capacity, there are numerous other reasons to prioritize immigrants with a background in skilled trades.
There are multiple ways to fill this gap in skilled workers. Targeted investments in apprenticeship training are critical given recent rates of uptake: from 2016-2021, the number of working-age people with construction-focused apprenticeship certificates rose by just 0.6%, while the number of working-age people with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased by almost 20%. While training more youth for careers in the skilled trades through programs like the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program is crucial, there simply aren’t enough interested young people to fill current labour gaps. Unless Baby Boomers are willing to work well beyond retirement age, skilled immigrants are the most effective way – and likely the only way – to rapidly scale up Canada’s construction potential.
Yet current immigration policies are falling short of the country’s construction needs. The proportion of immigrants with an apprenticeship or trades certificate dropped from 9.6% in the 1980s to 2.4% in recent years. Canada’s immigration system prioritizes university education over practical skills, and skilled tradespeople who come through the Express Entry system require a Canadian certification in their intended trade, automatically disqualifying many foreign construction workers. Through the Foreign Credentials Recognition Program, the Canadian government is funding programs like the UBC Bridge to Red Seal project, intended to streamline these processes for newcomers. More of these projects are needed on a large scale to integrate newcomers into the construction sector. Currently, most newcomers are left to navigate the complex recertification process on their own.
The path forward is clear. If we want to rapidly scale up our construction capacity, we need to harness skilled immigrant talent. Targeted immigration streams that prioritize construction-specific trades at scale will allow us to bring in the talent we need. Other key steps include increasing the frequency of Express Entry trades draws and aligning our immigration policy with future construction workforce projections. For those already in Canada, governments and national organizations should streamline the recognition of foreign credentials so we can get more skilled employees on jobsites quickly. Ultimately, immigrants are a key partner in solving our housing crisis and building affordable housing for all Canadians. Either we leverage the contributions of skilled immigrant construction workers, or we fall short of housing Canadians and immigrants alike.
Keywords: immigration, skilled trades, Canadian labour market, construction, Canadian housing market, labour shortages, newcomers, housing, Canadian workforce
By Chloe Bray
At the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) we champion immigration that mutually benefits newcomers and Canada. Effective immigration streams are critical to addressing Canada’s economic and labour challenges, supporting both immigrant integration and national prosperity. But the deteriorating Canada-US relationship casts a long shadow over our current approach to immigration and economic growth. Canada is failing to deliver for newcomers, and for its future prosperity. As Canada faces US tariffs, business and policy leaders need to embrace immigrant talent to help tackle these challenges.
Throughout 2024, as housing, infrastructure and construction labour shortages made headlines daily, Canada admitted only 35 permanent residents (PRs) through its Federal Skilled Trades program. This program encompasses workers categorized as technical trades and transportation; general trades; natural resources and related production; and processing, manufacturing, and utilities. Over the same period, roughly 23,000 temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in the same categories were admitted under the temporary foreign worker program. This uneven distribution of tradespeople across temporary and permanent immigration streams suggests that Canada is not taking the long view on its current challenges.
Throughout 2024, as housing, infrastructure and construction labour shortages made headlines daily, Canada admitted only 35 permanent residents (PRs) through its Federal Skilled Trades program.
Business leaders also need to step up to better integrate newcomers already in Canada into the labour force. Although Canada’s immigration policies claim to work towards addressing talent shortages in critical sectors, the 2024 Talent to Win report from the ICC and Deloitte demonstrates that immigrant talent remains “vastly underutilized”. Labour shortages “reduced Canada’s GDP potential by $54 billion in 2022.” Several key factors contribute to the underuse of immigrant talent, including poor onboarding, training, and mentoring; DEI gaps; difficulty translating experience and skills; and administration and regulatory compliance.
RBC indicates that Canada is short 64,000 workers in construction alone, and by 2033, roughly 800,000 workers will retire from the manufacturing, utilities, business, finance and administration, and trades and transportation industries. Demand for labour in these sectors is only going to increase. No matter how you slice the 2024 immigrant admissions data, Canada appears to be falling well short of its current and future needs.
The first months of 2025 have brought additional challenges. Confronting President Trump’s tariff threats and economic aggression demands an increase in Canadian domestic production. Labour shortages in these critical sectors – or the inability to better integrate the talent that’s already here – will threaten our ability to do so.
The natural resource and energy sectors are especially vulnerable to the tariffs. Industry leaders in Canada’s resource sector are assessing the potential impact of the tariffs and exploring options to reduce their reliance on the United States. Business leaders are discussing the possibility of building more mines and pipelines to increase resource production in Canada and shipping it outside the US. In Quebec, there are plans for a significant expansion to Hydro-Québec, including thousands of new wind turbines, 5,000 km of transmission lines, and multi-billion-dollar yearly investments. All these expansion initiatives will require major injections of labour. The Hydro-Québec project alone is estimated to require 55,000 workers by 2033, and “it’s not clear where that staff will come from.”
The ICC recognizes the immense and often unharnessed potential of newcomers to help solve this problem. Immigrants already contribute to filling critical labour shortages in other sectors. Canada’s healthcare sector is poised to see over 400,000 workers retire in the next 10 years, with existing recruitment challenges making it difficult to fill those roles. Highly skilled immigrants are helping to address this shortage: in 2021, immigrants accounted for 1 in 4 healthcare workers in Canada – and the proportion has likely increased over time. In certain areas, like dental technology, immigrants make up more than 60% of workers. Just as immigrants have filled essential positions in the healthcare system, so too can they support increased domestic production to shield Canada from the threat of American tariffs. But only if Canadians will let them. Immigrants remain overqualified and underemployed, unable to contribute effectively to the Canadian economy. This is especially true for immigrants with degrees in trades, who “face higher overqualification risks than those with STEM qualifications.”
This is the perfect moment for Canadian business and policy leaders to address the factors preventing immigrants from contributing their full potential and to ensure our immigration policies are prioritizing labour market integration as a key outcome.
Immigration is a strategic tool that can be used to address urgent labour shortages in industries poised to see increased demand. By making better use of skilled immigrants already here and welcoming new talent equipped to strengthen domestic production capacity, business and policy leaders could transform this economic challenge into an opportunity for sustainable growth while reducing Canada’s dependency on our increasingly unpredictable neighbour to the South.
At the ICC, we know that future Canadians are Canada’s future. But Canadian employers and policy makers need to find ways to source and integrate talent that continues to sit on the sidelines – at significant cost to our global competitiveness and our future prosperity. In addition to making better use of immigrant talent already in the country, Canada’s immigration policies should be better tailored to encourage and accept the skilled tradespeople needed to work in critical industries. As the economic impacts of Trump’s policies begin to hit Canadian consumers, the need for domestic production and diversification away from the US will only intensify. This is the perfect moment for Canadian business and policy leaders to address the factors preventing immigrants from contributing their full potential and to ensure our immigration policies are prioritizing labour market integration as a key outcome. The country’s housing, infrastructure, healthcare and productivity challenges cannot be solved until we do.
Keywords: immigration, skilled trades, Canadian labour market, temporary foreign workers, domestic production, labour shortages, economic growth, U.S.-Canada relations, tariffs, Canadian economy, newcomers, Canadian workforce, natural resources
By Adiba Hasan
Based on the most recent data available from October 2024, Permanent Residence (PR) admissions have reached 85% of the 2024 immigration target. In contrast, PR admissions by October 2023 had reached 87% of the annual year’s target.
The graph below compares the number of new citizens between January and October across four different years (2020 – 2024). Overall, citizenship numbers in 2021 were low due to processing delays following the Covid-19 pandemic, but the numbers started to rise again and stabilize in late 2021. Between 2021 and 2022, citizenship numbers experienced a notable jump, an impressive 130% increase, indicating a turning point after significant pandemic-related disruptions.
As pandemic impacts started to fade and application backlogs decreased, the percentage change in the number of new citizens also became smaller with only a 0.88% increase between 2022-2023. Since then, there has been a slight increase of 3.64% between 2023-2024.
Table 1: % Change in Citizenship Acqusition
Citizenship Year
% Change
2023 – 2024
3.64
2022 – 2023
0.88
2021 – 2022
130.92
2020 – 2021
23.59
2019 – 2020
-55.69
Immigration Levels Plan Changes
In October 2024, the Government of Canada released the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, marking a significant shift in the country’s immigration strategy. The plan outlines a significant reduction in permanent resident admissions, with targets set at 395,000 for 2025, followed by further declines to 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.
The graph below illustrates sharp reductions in economic migration (-23%), raising concerns about labour shortages in industries like healthcare and technology. Family reunification (-25%) and refugee admissions (-23%) also face cuts, drawing criticism from advocates about undermining Canada’s values and global commitments.
Share your thoughts
The changes in admissions targets, particularly the reductions in all immigration streams, raise important questions about the values that shape our immigration policies. While the government cites infrastructure and service capacity as reasons for the reductions, the decision has prompted debate about its potential social and economic repercussions.
Should Canada introduce citizenship target levels to ensure that PR holders are supported and incentivized to obtain Canadian citizenship?
How much should public opinion influence the government’s immigration levels and policies?
Stay connected with the ICC Immigration Dashboard for ongoing updates and insights. Please share your thoughts and perspectives, and join us in an important discussion on the future of immigration in Canada
Sign uphere for more updates from Ideas & Insightsat ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
Since its inception, Canoo has unlocked Canada for over 789,000 newcomers, providing free admission to museums, galleries, festivals, concerts, and other experiences across the country. For this quarterly Canoo Insights Report, we’re looking at Canoo member growth and engagement in summer 2024.
789K+
newcomers have participated
Canoo Memberships Continue to Increase
Since we published our last Canoo Insights Report in September 2024, Canoo membership has continued to increase. The following graph shows overall Canoo member numbers (adults and accompanying children) and monthly member growth from September to December 2024.
Canoo Member Growth September 1 – November 30, 2024
Canoo Member Growth: 2023 vs. 2024 Peak Season
This edition of the Canoo Insights Report focuses on the summer of 2024, which was the peak season for member activity this year. Let’s start by looking at the growth in Canoo membership (adults + accompanying children) in summer 2023 versus summer 2024.
Compared to the same months in 2023, May 2024 saw a 27% increase in sign-ups, June had a 14% increase, and there was a slight decrease of (-)0.2% in July. With the school year approaching and schedules becoming busier at the end of summer, August and September experienced a dip in Canoo sign-ups. The trend suggests that sign-ups among Canoo members typically align with children’s summer vacation periods.
Canoo Member Growth: Summer 2023 vs. Summer 2024
New Canoo Members by Country of Origin: Summer 2023 vs. Summer 2024
For this and the following section of the Canoo Insights Report, we focus on the peak summer months: June, July, and August.
The most common countries of origin among new Canoo members shifted from summer 2023 to summer 2024. India, China, and the Philippines maintained the top three spots during both periods, but the overall composition of the top two countries changed. In summer 2023, India and China made up 38% and 8% of new Canoo memberships, respectively. In summer 2024, India increased to 40% of new Canoo memberships, with China falling to 7% of new memberships.
There were also some significant changes in the lower spots. Bangladesh and Vietnam fell off the 2024 list, replaced by Hong Kong and Algeria. France also moved up three spots.
The following chart captures the top 10 countries of origin for summer 2023 and summer 2024, respectively, and displays how many people from those countries joined Canoo during each period.
Top Countries of Origin of New Canoo Members: Summer 2023 vs. Summer 2024
Hidden Gem Venues
This summer, Canoo highlighted four “hidden gem” venues across the country. These venues offer compelling exhibits and family-friendly activities, without the crowds of more popular attractions. The following charts show admission at these hidden gem venues, as well as how often Canoo members visited with children.
Aga Khan Museum (Toronto, ON)
Canoo summer admissions to the Aga Khan peaked in August, and the majority of Canoo members did not bring children with them on their visits. But did you know the museum offers a variety of family programming?
Museum of Vancouver (Vancouver, BC)
Canoo admissions to the Museum of Vancouver were substantially higher in August than in the other summer months. It’s no wonder late summer is a popular time to visit here — it’s the best time to check out MOV’s Living Exhibition.
The Hangar Flight Museum (Calgary, AB)
The Hangar Flight Museum was a popular choice for families this summer, with 56% of Canoo visitors bringing children. No surprise there! Families and aviation enthusiasts alike can spend the day among the museum’s massive collection of historic aircraft.
Art Gallery of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)
If the wacky exterior of this art gallery doesn’t draw you in, its captivating exhibits certainly will. This gallery saw peak summer admissions in August, with July a close second.
More Hidden Gems
Want to explore more lesser-known Canoo venues? Check out the following spots:
As Canoo continues to improve and expand, our quarterly reports strive to offer inspiring stories of Canoo members and highlight the essential collaborations that make these experiences possible.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from the ICC by subscribing here and following Ideas & Insights.
New ICC/Conference Board Report Calls for Broad, Concerted Efforts to Retain Immigrants
November 19, 2024 – A new reportfrom the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), conducted by the Conference Board of Canada shows that immigrants are leaving Canada in record numbers, particularly the high-skilled immigrants Canada urgently needs.
“These are tradespeople who build our homes, nurses who care for our loved ones, truckers who facilitate commerce, and entrepreneurs who spur innovation,” said ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard. “And they are increasingly headed out the door.”
Bernhard notes that the concerning findings of the report, entitled, “The Leaky Bucket 2024: A closer look at immigrant onward migration in Canada,” coincide with 30-year lows in public support for immigration.
“Canadians are bombarded with commentary telling them that high immigration levels are to blame for homegrown challenges including housing supply, inaccessible healthcare, crime, and even traffic,” said Bernhard. “Be careful what you wish for. This is globally coveted talent with global options. We need programs that entice them to stay, become active citizens and help fuel our economy.”
The report follows ICC’s first “Leaky Bucket” report released in 2023, also produced by the Conference Board of Canada. That original study revealed the alarming trend of immigrants leaving Canada in growing numbers to seek opportunity elsewhere. This year’s report provides updated figures and digs deeper into the characteristics of those immigrants who are leaving in greater and greater numbers. Highlights of the findings include:
Francophone immigrants to Quebec and Ontario are much more likely than Anglophone immigrants to leave Canada to seek opportunity elsewhere
The most populous cities in Canada—Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver— see high turnover rates of immigrants. They function as hubs for immigrant communities to access resources and support for their settlement journey
In contrast, fast-growing, mid-sized cities in other provinces (Calgary, Alberta, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick) see the opposite trend, but have potentially greater challenges retaining immigrants in communities outside of their larger cities
The Atlantic provinces see the highest rates of onward migration in Canada in the shorter term (three to seven years after arrival), but the lowest rates longer term (25 years and more after arrival)
The highest two origin nations of immigrants leaving Canada are a combination of countries allowing dual citizenship (Lebanon) and those restricting citizenship only to that country (South Korea).
The Report includes recommendations to help stem the outward flow of newcomers, such as:
Support provinces and municipalities to understand onward migration trends and address unique challenges in their cities and regions.
Develop short-term and long-term strategies to address retention challenges at different points in immigrants’ settlement journeys.
Engage educational institutions and settlement service organisations in the retention conversation.
Consider the impact of language integration on retention and build out Francophone programs.
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) aspires to a Canada where newcomers don’t just come but stay, naturalize, succeed, and contribute maximally to our shared success. The ICC is best known for its Canoo Access Pass, a mobile app that currently provides over 750,000 newcomers with free and discounted access to more than 2,000 of Canada’s best culture, nature and sport experiences, plus exclusive deals with leading brands, so that they fall in love with Canada, stay, and become enthusiastic citizens
Toronto, Ontario, Oct. 30, 2024 – Immigrants with the greatest potential to fuel Canada’s economy are the most at risk of leaving within the next two years, according to new findings from The Newcomer Perspective, a large-scale study conducted jointly by Ipsos and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC). With so much attention focused on how many immigrants Canada admits, new research shines a light on how successfully they are integrating into Canadian economic, social and civic life through the first 10 years after arrival.
Findings from the study, which will gather perspectives from 20,000 verified adult immigrants to Canada in 2024, show that skilled, economic immigrants are thinking twice about staying in Canada, mostly due to high housing costs, financial pressure and inadequate salaries.
Here are a few highlights of what this study has revealed so far:
26% of newcomers report that they are likely (somewhat and very likely) to leave Canada within two years
Housing affordability is the number one reason for planning to leave
Likelihood to leave varies considerably by immigration category on arrival, with economic immigrants and those with prior Canadian experience most likely to plan their exits
Likelihood to leave also varies considerably across Canada, ranging from 31% of newcomers in Brampton, Ontario, 30% in Toronto, 29% in Vancouver, and 22% in Montreal.
Economic, business and immigrants with Canadian experience most likely to consider leaving
Close to one in three (32%) immigrants in the Canadian Experience Class (i.e. those who were international students or temporary workers before obtaining permanent residency) indicate that they are somewhat likely, or very likely to leave Canada within two years, while only one in five (20%) immigrants admitted by way of Quebec programs say they are likely to leave.
Further underscoring the loss of skilled immigrants, immigrants who have spent 5+ years in Canada are more likely to consider leaving the country (30%), taking with them the skills and experience they have gained, perhaps in search of better opportunities. At the same time, 23% of those who are in the first five years of settling into a new country are also foreseeing their departure from Canada, pointing to a need for support from institutions, both public and private.
Economic Concerns Driving Desire to Leave Canada
The top three reasons driving the likelihood of leaving Canada are all economic: housing costs (79%), low salary/income (65%) and concerns about the economy generally (54%).
Almost eight in ten (79%) newcomers say that Canada has been worse than expected as a place that gives them access to affordable housing, compared to only 10% who think it is better than expected. Housing far outranks any other aspect of the newcomer journey when it comes to falling short of expectations.
Further, more than half (51%) express that Canada falls short of their expectations as a place to get ahead financially and more than six in ten (61%) believe that their current income is not commensurate to their credentials and experience.
The Newcomer Perspective: So much more than a survey of newcomers
These are just a small sample of key findings and topics covered in this groundbreaking syndicated research program, The Newcomer Perspective. In months to come, Ipsos and the ICC will explore other issues of importance for newcomers and for the governments, non-profits and businesses who seek to serve them better. This ongoing research will track the views of newcomers over time and will allow subscribers to dive deeper into results by a wide array of key segments, including country of origin, immigration category, province of residence, number of years in Canada, age, education levels and so much more.
About this release
These are some of the preliminary findings of the recently launched ‘The Newcomer Perspective’ research program, which will survey 20,000 newcomers in 2024. For this release, 15,383 verified adult newcomers to Canada aged 18 years and over were interviewed online (10,153 interviews from May 31 to June 11, and 5,230 interviews from August 13 to August 22). Participants for the survey were permanent residents and Canadian citizens who settled in Canada within the past 10 years and are members of the ICC’s Canoo Access Pass, which represents the largest and highest quality member base of Canadian newcomers.
About The Newcomer Perspective Study
The Newcomer Perspective is a partnership between Ipsos and the ICC which brings the voices of newcomers to Canadian leaders in the private and public sectors, providing the insights they need to play their part in making Canada a welcoming country that newcomers fall in love with and contribute to. The study is the country’s largest and most comprehensive survey of the attitudes and perspectives of newcomers throughout their immigration journey. For more information on The Newcomer Perspective research program, please write to NewcomerInsightsCanada@ipsos.com.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing nearly 20,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and Mid-60 indices and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP. www.ipsos.com.
About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC)
The ICC works to unlock Canada for newcomers, facilitating and encouraging the journey towards full and active Canadian citizenship. Thanks to its pioneering Canoo Cultural Access Pass, the ICC serves more newcomers than any other organization in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, the ICC has a presence across the country, including staff in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montréal.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
For questions about methodology and analysis, please contact Ipsos using the details listed above. Click here for more information and to access data tables for this release.
New ICC-Deloitte Report and Playbook highlight winning ways for business leaders
NEWS RELEASE
October 8, 2024 – Companies across Canada are less competitive than they could be, and short-changing shareholders by leaving exceptional immigrant talent on the bench.
A new Employer Playbook for recruiting and retaining newcomers to Canada shows Canadian companies several ways they can boost their financial scores with the help of immigrants already in Canada and keen to get in the game. The Playbook is built on the results of a new report, “Talent to win”, which draws from an extensive series of confidential roundtables with employers, government and civil society leaders from across Canada, conducted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) in partnership with Deloitte.
“Imagine if the manager of the Toronto Raptors or Calgary Flames didn’t pick star players because they weren’t Canadian trained? They would be giving rival teams a significant competitive advantage.” said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the ICC. “If you’re down two goals late in the game, successful coaches get their best players on the ice, no matter where in the world they learned how to play.”
According to a seasoned investor and executive interviewed for the new report, Canada’s business leaders “don’t grasp how so much of the world is beating us.”
About the Playbook for Canadian Business Leaders
The Playbook includes real examples from companies who have seen their bottom lines increase after capitalizing on the underutilized and overlooked immigrant talent pool.
An Eastern Canadian construction firm got around English language requirements and gained an edge on competitors by putting together crews that all spoke the same foreign language (one crew spoke Ukrainian, another spoke Hindi). They proved to be safer and more productive than average crews, thanks to their ability to work and communicate in the language they speak most naturally and their optimism for being given a chance to contribute more significantly.
A Western Canadian natural resources company changed a hiring policy that previously required heavy equipment operators to have winter driving experience and found that immigrants who were new to snow drove more carefully and had fewer accidents.
About the Report: Talent to win – Employers’ perspectives on immigrant underemployment and the immense upside of solving it
“Talent to win” is a unique collaboration between the ICC and Deloitte, which brought together over 40 leaders from business, government, and civil society to understand the causes of immigrant underemployment and surface creative workarounds that leading employers have enacted to put this immensely underused talent pool to work.
Beyond the reality of systemic discrimination, the roundtable discussions revealed that employers face several challenges, including: lack of ambition in business culture, inadequate onboarding and mentoring practices, blind spots in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) frameworks that don’t take country of origin into account, and a lack of support to navigate Canada’s complex immigration system – especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Since 2005, ICC’s programs have worked to give every newcomer to Canada the chance to become fully involved in our history, our culture, and our politics. More than 750,000 newcomers have participated in ICC’s Canoo program to discover all that Canada has to offer. The generous support from our donors and partners has enabled this impact.
About Deloitte
Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and service to address clients’ most complex business challenges.
The latest operational data from IRCC are now available in the ICC Immigration Dashboard, showing that permanent residence (PR) admissions have reached 63% of Canada’s 2024 target. During the same period in 2023 (January to July), PR admissions had already reached 65%, signalling a slightly slower admission rate in 2024.
In July 2024, 47,770 PRs were admitted, marking a 6.9% increase month-over-month, and a 17% increase year-over-year. In 2024, July had the highest number of PR admissions. Despite reaching this peak in July, overall PR admissions from January to July 2024 have seen a slight decrease of 0.16% (or 485 fewer admissions) compared to the same period in 2023.
Changing Dynamics Across Source Countries
The following chart compares Permanent Resident (PR) admissions from January to July 2024 with the same period in 2023, focusing on source countries with significant percentage increases.
There was a sharp rise in PR admissions from Ukraine, with a staggering 114.7% increase, likely due to the ongoing geopolitical conflict driving more individuals to seek permanent residence in Canada.
Countries with a large francophone population, such as Cameroon (+100.55%), Algeria (+63.79%), and Morocco (+23.88%), have shown increases in Permanent Resident (PR) admissions between January and July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This corresponds to the goal of increasing the Francophone community to support French-speaking communities across the country.
In addition to the notable upticks in PR admissions, it’s important to highlight the significant rise in admissions from the Philippines.
With a 23.14% increase, the Philippines remains one of Canada’s key source countries for new immigrants, seeing a growth from 16,765 in 2023 to 20,645in 2024.
PR Admissions by Source Country, % Increase
The ICC Immigration Dashboard data from January to July 2024 also reveal significant declines in permanent residence (PR) admissions from other source countries, when compared to the same period in 2023.
Source countries that saw significant declines are Iraq (-25.95%), Jamaica (-22.92%), and Brazil (-22.38%). The United States and the United Kingdom also saw substantial drops of 22.12% and 22.01%, respectively. Countries like Congo, DRC (-20.71%) and South Korea (-18.12%) also experienced double-digit decreases. Traditionally high-immigration source countries like China (-11.33%) and India (-9.65%) witnessed smaller but notable reductions, signalling the changing immigration dynamics, possibly linked to Canada’s evolving immigration policies.
This overall downward trend in PR admissions may reflect tighter immigration policies, global economic shifts, or other external factors affecting migration patterns.
PR Admissions by Source Country, % Decrease
What are your thoughts?
The narrative around immigration in Canada has become increasingly tumultuous and has been accompanied by more restrictive policy interventions — particularly for temporary residents. The government is obliged to release its annual immigration levels plan by November 1st each year, and given the current political climate in Canada, there is considerable anticipation — and anxiety — about the details of the forthcoming levels plan for 2025-2027. The data clearly shows ongoing changes in levels across source countries, including China and India, which have typically represented a significant proportion of Canada’s PR admissions overall. Could the decrease in levels from these countries be the thin edge of the wedge?
How might current debates about immigration affect the desirability of Canada as a destination for immigrants?
How might Canada’s political climate affect immigration levels from source countries like India and China in the future?
We invite you to continue following the ICC Immigration Dashboard for more updates and insights. Share your thoughts and perspectives, and together, let’s engage in a meaningful conversation about the future of immigration in Canada.
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