Canada struggles to retain its highly skilled immigrants

A new national analysis shows that highly skilled immigrants, those with advanced degrees or expertise in fields such as engineering, ICT, and healthcare, are twice as likely to leave Canada within their first five years compared to immigrants with lower skill levels. Although one in five newcomers eventually departs within 25 years, early-stage departures are far more common among top-talent professionals who face challenges such as limited career opportunities, underemployment, and slow professional accreditation processes. The findings highlight a growing gap between Canada’s efforts to attract global talent and its ability to retain them long-term, raising concerns about future economic growth, productivity, and the country’s capacity to meet critical labour-market needs. Strengthening pathways to meaningful employment and improving integration support will be essential to retaining highly skilled newcomers in Canada.

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