Bigger population smaller employment gap; immigrants driving population growth in Canada

Most of Canada’s recent population growth has been thanks to immigrants, and as a result, the country is becoming increasingly diverse. There is also evidence that the employment gap between immigrant workers and Canadian-born workers is narrowing.

Statistics Canada says 82 per cent of Canada’s population growth between 2018 and 2019 was the result of international migration. Many Canadian provinces are pushing for immigration in an effort to propel population growth.

The natural population growth is expected to continue on a downward trend. Population gains are expected to be driven by international migration.

More immigrants in the workforce, diversity rising in cities

The employment gap between new immigrants and Canadian-born workers is the smallest it has been in a decade. The employment rate gap decreased from 19 percentage points in 2010 to 13 percentage points in 2018.

Recent immigrants are also experiencing faster growth in employment rates than the Canadian-born. Newcomers saw their employment rate increase by 7.7 percentage points from 2010 to 2018, compared to 2.1 percentage points for Canadians.

About half of all immigrants have at least a bachelor’s degree. Over half, 54 per cent, of those in Canada between the ages of 25 and 64 with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) degree are immigrants.

Visible minority populations are expected to continue on an upward trend, particularly in major cities.

By 2036 up to 40 per cent of the population aged 15-64 is expected to belong to a visible minority group. Statistics Canada also predicts that up to 31 per cent of the population will have a mother tongue other than English or French, and up to 16 per cent will have a non-Christian religion.

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