According to the study’s results, Canada’s immigrants who hold a bachelor’s degree and above stood a higher chance of occupying jobs that are below their qualifications compared to their counterparts in the United States. However, Canada had a lower rate of over-education among workers who were born in the country compared to the United States.
Going by the National Occupational Classification’s requirements, 35% of Canada’s recent immigrants (those who arrived in the country in the last 10 years), had a first degree and in the age bracket of 25 to 64 in 2016, took up jobs below their qualifications. The rate of over-education among the age same age group in the same year in the United States was 21%. Little change was observed in filling this gap after factoring in recent immigrant’s social-demographic characteristics in the two countries.
Canada admits economic immigrants under different selection programs. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) had the lowest over-education admission rate among immigrants at 18%, which was below that of recent immigrants in the United States. The CEC program came into effect in 2008 and is similar to the United State’s employer-selection. Immigrants who arrive as temporary foreign workers under the program can apply to gain permanent residency status after one has gained over one year’s experience of skilled work in the country.
Additionally, Canada experienced a low number in over-education among long-term immigrants (those who arrived in the country over ten years ago) compared to the United States. The rate of over-education was 21% in Canada, while the United States had 18%. This suggests that Canada has a high immigrants transition rate out of over-education compared to the United States.
13% of Canadian-born workers hold a bachelor’s degree compared to 15% The rate of over-education among Canadians who hold a bachelor’s degree and above is 13% while the United States has 15%.
