What Kind of Immigrants is Canada Looking for?
Under the current plan, Canada is looking to add 241,500 economic immigrants to its population. This category includes high-skilled workers via the Express Entry program, both high-skill and in-demand workers via the Provincial Nominee Program, and high-skilled workers via one of Quebec’s programs. Another 103,500 people will find citizenship via one of the family sponsorship programs. This program allows eligible spouses, partners, children, parents, or grandparents to immigrate to the nation via sponsorship by either a naturalized or native Canadian family member. Another 66,000 will be allowed into Canada as refugees, asylum seekers, or under other compassionate grounds.
Canada is also likely to re-double this commitment to refugee assistance in light of the Afghanistan withdrawal, with several new programs made specifically to assist those fleeing Taliban rule. One such program focuses on Afghan citizens that are under threat of death in the country, such as female leaders, defenders of human rights, religious or ethnic minorities, LGBT+ individuals, and journalists or those that assisted Canadian journalists. They’ve also established a priority queue for family members of Afghans already in Canada, and extended family members of interpreters that worked alongside the military and immigrated through programs in the years 2009-2012.
Why Does Canada Need Migrants?
As Canada began its economic recovery, unemployment began to drop heavily, with new industries beginning to expand throughout the country. It now faces a labor shortage across many key industries that is poised to slow its recovery. This labor shortage continues in spite of a near economy-wide hike in wages, with a December 9th report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business finding that over 50% of small businesses in the nation were unable to find employees. Around 55% of the business owners ascribe this to a lack of qualified applicants, while the rest ascribe it to a lack of any applicants at all. This shortage is especially affecting both the healthcare and social services industries with a report by Statistics Canada indicating that nearly 20% of job vacancies were in these industries. Another of the major factors that spur the need for migrant labor in developed nations is the general trend towards declining birth rates. For any nation, a declining birth rate means an aging population, and an aging population means more resources need to go towards elder care, and fewer working-age natives available to fill open positions. With this trend likely to continue well into the future, an increase in the immigration quota should be expected year over year.
