Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
International students are a major part of Canada’s immigration strategy. They have become a vital resource for post-secondary institutions across the country since they account for nearly a third of tuition fees paid annually. With tightening labour markets and an aging workforce, international students are considered ideal candidates for permanent residency in Canada.
Globally, Canada is becoming the third largest destination for international students. Furthermore, international students are twice as likely to study engineering, mathematics and computer science — major areas with projected labour shortages in the country. While studying in Canada is a favourable pathway, many international students find it difficult to navigate the complex system to acquire permanent residency. Barriers to securing relevant work experience, for example, is a major challenge in addition to their exclusion from many work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities available for domestic students.
Canada needs a coordinated approach to leverage international students as a future source of labour and permanent residents. By focusing on in-demand fields of study, transparency throughout the immigration process, streamlined pathways to permanent residency and further support from the public and private sectors, international students can fully succeed in Canada.