The federal government wants to see 1.45 million new permanent residents in Canada over the next three years, including 500,000 people by 2025. The push comes as Canada faces a labor shortage. “If we don’t have immigration, our workforce will not grow,” said Anil Verma, professor emeritus of labor relations and human resource management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Canada aims to welcome 500,000 newcomers by 2025, and one of the goals is to help fill jobs with skilled workers. (Patrick Morrell/CBC) According to the government’s fall economic statement, “Immigration is at the core of our identity as Canadians, while it is also a key driver of Canada’s economic growth.” Ottawa believes boosting immigration will help address labor needs in a country with an aging population and record numbers of people planning to retire. In its fall economic statement, Ottawa said “immigration is at the core of our identity as Canadians, while it is also a key driver of Canada’s economic growth.” (Olivier Hyland/CBC)
Ottawa could be ‘more daring’
The federal government aims for about 60 percent of newcomers to be in the economic class — people who come to Canada for their work skills as well as their accompanying family members — by 2025. Dennis Darby, president and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), said members of his trade association are “very grateful” for what the government is doing. “That’s how we’re going to get the next generation of people we need.” A view of part of Toronto’s financial district is seen in a file photo from last December. The Business Council of Canada, an advocacy group representing dozens of leaders in a range of industries, believes Ottawa could have set “bolder” immigration goals than it has announced. (Carlos Osorio/Reuters) The Business Council of Canada (BCC), an advocacy group that represents business leaders in a range of industries, also supports the approach, but believes Ottawa could be “more bold” in its hiring targets. “Directionally, we’re happy with where the government is going,” said Trevor Neiman, the council’s director of policy and legal counsel. Both BCC and CME support the participation of even more workers in the country and the economy. No matter how large that cohort is, however, Verma points out that the process of moving to another country to start a new life—and secure work—doesn’t happen overnight. This means that the full impact these incoming workers will have on the labor market will not be realized immediately. “The math for filling job vacancies is very difficult, and I think it should not be the basis for long-term immigration policy,” Verma said, pointing to economic growth and nation-building as more important factors.
“A bumpy ride”
Samitaa Chahal knows how difficult the journey to a new life in Canada can be. He left India and landed in Ontario just two weeks before the pandemic shut down everything in March 2020. Chahal found herself alone and trying to make sense of the chaos. This included finding work in a world that had been turned upside down. Samitaa Chahal moved to Canada just before the pandemic shut down both borders and business as usual. He persevered, finding work at a difficult time and learning the quirks of the domestic labor market. (Submitted by Samitaa Chahal) Despite having a background in marketing and communications, her first job here was in a long-term care home. Six months later, she found another job and has since moved into a position as an instructional designer in the field of learning and development — one she chose over a competing job offer. Chahal recalls the pride she felt in being able to “pick and choose what I want to do and not [from] what life throws at me”. “It’s been a bumpy ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
Many skills in demand
The federal government says its immigration plan will help Canadian businesses find the people they need in key sectors including health care, building trades, manufacturing and science, technology, education and math (STEM ). Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says targeted draws will be used next year to bring applicants with the most demanding skills to specific areas where they are needed. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said targeted draws would be used next year to bring applicants with the most demanding skills to specific areas where they are needed. The minister told Reuters that a key focus will be on recruiting doctors and nurses, in provinces that will work to ensure that the credentials of these newcomers are recognized quickly. As for the manufacturing sector, CME’s Darby said there is strong demand for both skilled and general labor, with more than 80,000 vacancies across Canada.
More competition for people
The BCC says its members – which include banks, mining companies and other large employers – have pointed out that immigration is key to finding the staff they need. The council conducted a survey in the first quarter of the year that gathered responses from 80 of its 170 members. Respondents included CEOs and other senior professionals. Ottawa says its immigration plan will help Canadian businesses find people for key sectors including health care, building trades and manufacturing. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Two-thirds of respondents said they hired staff directly through immigration, while the BCC said the rest hired immigrants who were already living here. Neumann said Canada has benefited greatly from immigration for years, and it remains one of Ottawa’s strongest tools to address labor shortages. But he said the country now faces more intense competition for people as other nations also face labor shortages. “Canada really needs to step up their game to maintain their advantage,” he said. Ottawa appears to be listening: In its fall economic statement, the government said it would provide $50 million in additional funding to address current delays and other issues preventing newcomers from quickly entering Canada. LISTEN | Immigration and labor shortages: CBC News: The House9:38 Will half a million immigrants ease Canada’s labor woes? Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a new record target for immigration. Experts Mikal Skuterud and Michael Haan discuss measures of success for Canada’s immigration policies. Asked about the competition the country faces for talent, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it could not “speculate” on what other nations are doing to attract newcomers. “The level of immigration to Canada is a policy choice that must balance the benefits of immigration with the costs of implementing the program and the capacity of our infrastructure,” the department said in an email.
Challenges after arrival
Sweta Regmi, founder and CEO of Teachndo Career Consultancy in Sudbury, Ont., sees many newcomers lacking support in navigating the Canadian job market. WATCHES | Canada sees job gains in October:
Canada adds 108,000 jobs in October, unemployment steady at 5.2%
Canada’s economy added 108,000 jobs in October, about 10 times more than expected. However, an unexpectedly hot labor market is not enough to reduce the overall cost of living. “The gap … is in teaching you how to do the job search,” said Regmi, a certified career and resume strategist, who sees a persistent issue she also faced during her immigration journey two decades ago . There are programs that provide assistance to people, but Regmi said they are not always well suited to the needs of incoming job seekers. Chahal found the process itself a particular challenge as she worked to learn the quirks of a job market she found more rigid in its hiring practices compared to India. A group of apartment towers are seen during a foggy day in downtown Toronto on Thursday. Every newcomer to Canada needs somewhere to live. Finding affordable housing is a growing challenge in the country. (Carlos Osorio/CBC) The availability of affordable housing is an issue that has concerned domestic politics across Canada lately, but this is just as important for people moving to a new country. Fraser, the immigration minister, told Reuters Canada would focus on welcoming more skilled construction workers to help build new homes and select newcomers for areas with “absorptive capacity” to receive them. IRCC said that “having adequate investment in settlement, housing and public services is paramount not only to the long-term success of newcomers, but also to ensuring that we provide the same level of service to all Canadians.” Mikal Skuterud, an economics professor at the University of Waterloo, told CBC’s The House that it’s “relatively easy” for the government to quickly increase the number of newcomers compared to its ability to rapidly increase the stock of available housing. Skuterud expects the relative price of housing in all areas to be a factor in where many people decide to live.
