The Aging Population
The Statistics Canada report indicated that the average age of Canadians to be around 41 years. The statistics behind this age show that by 2068 the number of Canadians aged 85 and above will be triple that of the median age, from 871,000 to 3.2 million. Canada will therefore have 26% of its population as retirees in 2068. The agency estimated that an aging population is an unavoidable concern despite the increase in immigration into the country for the next 50 years.
Coupled with the increase in mortality rate, the agency projects that even in a medium-growth scenario, the country might see a negative birth rate between 2049 and 2058. Ideally, the country will witness more deaths than births for nearly one decade.
Canada’s Plan to Attract Young Talent
Despite the increase in immigration, one challenge that is difficult to overcome is increasing the number of talented immigrant youths. The low birth rate among Canadian couples greatly contributes to the inefficiency in natural population growth. In 2020 the number of children per woman in the country was at only 1.4 according to the Annual Demographic Estimates. There was hope among new immigrants, interprovincial migrants, and non-permanent residents in 2021 since most immigrants ranged from 18 to 34 years.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aspires to attract more youthful and talented newcomers for permanent residence in Canada. IRCC would achieve the strategy by taking actions like streamlining the CRS to accommodate younger immigrants. Canada’s Express Entry system currently restricts the maximum age point in the Comprehensive Ranking System to 20-29 years. The country’s immigration program also rewards immigrants with Canadian experience, including immigrants like youthful and talented international graduates.
