The potential of the Canada’s economy is divided in part by the total number of labour force or people working and paying taxes to fund it’s public services, such as health care.
The immigration brings more and more people to Canada and strengthen Canada’s labour force. And this immigration continues to grow by a small amount every year. If it weren’t for immigrants, employers would have trouble finding enough qualified workers to fill available jobs. This is because Canadians are living longer and having fewer children. More people are retiring, and there are fewer students in schools. As a result, the pool of Canadian-born existing and potential workers is limited.
Immigrants also contribute to Canada’s economy, not only by fulfilling the gaps in labour force and paying taxes, but also by spending money on goods, housing and transportation.
Supporting our aging population:
Canada’s worker-to-retiree ratio is 4 to 1. By 2035, when 5 million Canadians are set to retire, the ratio will be down to 2 to 1, meaning there will be only 2 workers for every retiree.
Meeting labour market needs:
There are some employers already facing issues in finding Canadian-born workers to fill jobs. More than 6 in 10 immigrants are selected for their positive impact on our economy. The top 5 occupations of people invited to immigrate under our Express Entry program are as follows:
- Software engineers and designers
- Information systems analysts
- Computer programmers
- Financial auditors and accountants
- Advertising, marketing and public relations professionals
Filling temporary labour needs:
Temporary foreign workers are an important part of the Canadian workforce. They help employers meet labour needs when qualified Canadians or permanent residents aren’t available.
Temporary workers support the success and growth of many industries, such as agriculture and agri-food, health care and technology.
Sustaining Canada’s Education system through International Students:
International students contribute more than $21 billion to the economy every year through student spending and tuition. International education is an essential pillar of Canada’s long-term competitiveness. Students from abroad who study in Canada expose Canadians to new cultures and ideas. This stimulates innovation and develops important cross-cultural competencies. If these students choose to immigrate to Canada, they contribute to Canada’s economic success.
Immigrants deliver and improve Canada’s Health and Social Services:
Because many immigrants are young and economically active, they contribute more than they receive in benefits over their lifetime.
According to the 2016 Census, more than 335,000 immigrants work in health-related occupations.
Immigrants are thoroughly screened and respect our laws:
We thoroughly screen immigrants before they arrive to make sure they have not committed serious crimes, don’t pose a security risk and are in good health.
Immigrants who don’t respect our laws risk losing their immigration status and being removed from Canada.
Immigrants settle in communities across the Country:
According to the 2016 Census, the number of immigrants settling in small and midsize communities is growing.
Immigration in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada has more than doubled in the last 15 years.
The Government of Canada is promoting Francophone immigration to help Francophone minority communities thrive.
In 1997, only about 1 in 10 economic immigrants settled outside Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. By 2017, this number had grown to almost 4 in 10.
Immigrants integrate fully into Canadian Society:
Did you know that about one-third of immigrants in Canada have volunteered, and two-thirds are part of social organizations? And the more involved they are with their new home, the more they want to give: According to Statistics Canada, “the immigrants and their descendants who are integrated into a local personal network and participate in community activities, such as religious practices, are more likely to have a higher number of acquaintances with neighbourhood residents, to trust their neighbours and to volunteer.”
