Proof point: Students and new graduates are bearing the brunt of the labour market downturn
This RBC Economics research explores the drivers behind the recent growth in Canada’s unemployment rate. Since April 2023, Canada’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.8 percentage points, a level typically associated with recessionary periods. However, unlike prior periods, the increase in unemployment has stemmed primarily from slower hiring of students and new graduates rather…Read More
Entering the labour market during recession can leave lasting scars
This TD Bank report suggests that work-integrated learning (WIL) can ease the labour market scarring felt by graduates who must find their first career job during a recession. During periods of higher unemployment, the job market is more competitive, reducing options for graduates. As a result, those who enter the labour market during recessions…Read More
Most Canadians agree temporary foreign workers are important or somewhat important to Canada’s economy
The Nanos Research report, commissioned by the Globe and Mail, provides an in-depth analysis of Canadian attitudes toward temporary foreign workers. Conducted in 2023 from December 27 to 29, the survey involved 1,006 people in Canada and employed a hybrid telephone and online methodology. The report reveals that most Canadians understand the economic significance…Read More
How much will Canada’s population grow? Nobody knows, but we can predict where it goes
This report delves into the role that non-permanent residents (NPRs) play in shaping Canada’s population growth and economic landscape. The author points out that NPRs, comprising temporary foreign workers and international students, have become a significant driver of Canada’s recent population surge. This trend underscores a shift toward temporary immigration as a significant factor…Read More
Matching people with jobs and jobs with people
This report discusses the communication issues that labour market players have with each other and delves into how these can inhibit the efficient matching of people with jobs and vice versa. It finds that poor communication leads to skills mismatches, a lack of understanding among employers of the skills needed for certain jobs, and…Read More
Empty seats: Why labour shortages plague small and medium-sized businesses and what to do about it
This research explores the fundamental dynamics of labour shortages in Canada and proposes strategies to mitigate them. Small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, grapple with labour shortages, given their relatively constrained financial and human resources. Factors such as wage-level disparities, lack of qualifications, skill mismatches, job market dynamics, and Canadian demographics continue to contribute…Read More
An immigration system for Canada’s future: Strengthening our communities
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) unveiled a new strategy to “reshape Canada’s immigration system.” The plan sets out three primary objectives that are central to the country’s immigration vision: 1. Create a more welcoming experience for newcomers. This entails addressing challenges that newcomers may face in navigating the immigration process. To that end,…Read More
The leaky bucket: A study of immigrant retention trends in Canada
This paper examines the patterns of immigrant retention in Canada, emphasizing the rising trend of “onward migration”—by which immigrants leave Canada for other countries. Using data from the 2021 Longitudinal Immigration Database, this study identifies a significant increase in onward migration since the 1980s, with notable surges in 2017 and 2019. These findings suggest…Read More
The provincial nominee program: Retention in province of landing
The authors highlight that Canada’s PNP aims to distribute new immigrants across the country more evenly and retain them in their nominating province or territory. However, retention rates vary nationally and provincially. This report finds that, compared to other immigration streams in Canada (such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program), a smaller number of…Read More
Enhancing the labour market outcomes of immigrants to Canada
This paper reviews how Canada values immigration for its bolstering of the labour market and economic growth, as well as Canada’s plans for a substantial increase in immigrant intake in the 2023–25 Immigration Levels Plan. The authors point out that, historically, immigrants have faced earnings disadvantages compared to Canadian-born individuals (particularly during the 1970s-1990s),…Read More