An analysis of the educational level of Canadian workers was released earlier this week by Statistics Canada. According to this report, Immigrants drive quality growth in Canada’s workforce and qualification.
A study of the G7 countries (including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan) found that Canada had the highest percentage of working-age people (defined as 25 to 64 years old) with a college degree or higher. Most postsecondary graduates (57%) make up Canada’s labor force. Considering worker qualifications, Canada has led the G7 since 2006.
Why are Canadian workers highly educated?
Canadians have benefited from a strong, internationally recognized post-secondary education system. It is a major reason why the number of competent workers in the country continues to grow. Canadians’ enthusiasm for the education industry alone demonstrates its strength.
A steady increase in bachelor’s degrees among young Canadian-born women and men over the past decade is evident. It was actually comparable to the rate of growth in ten years ago among men in the core demographic (25–54 years old) who had earned a degree.
An important factor contributing to Canada’s higher education and qualification levels is immigration.
Immigrant’s impact on the labor market
New immigrants and non-permanent residents (those with a work permit) drive half of the quality growth in Canada’s workforce between 2016 and 2021. As well as bachelor’s degree holders (39.1%), those with master’s degrees (52.2%) and doctorates (55.8%) had these characteristics.
A bachelor’s degree or higher was held by 59.4% of recent immigrants, which was higher than any other group. With more than 620,000 overseas students expected to arrive in Canada by 2021. It continues to be the most popular destination for overseas students among the G7 nations.
In other words, immigrants deliver a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge to Canada’s economy. Not just by sheer numbers, but also by the quality of their knowledge. As one of the most highly educated nations among the G7 nations, Canada boasts a large immigrant population.
Are these immigrants being treated fairly in Canada?
Accreditation: A recurring issue
Nearly a quarter of all immigrants with foreign degrees were overqualified (those working in positions that typically required only a high-school degree). Compared to Canadians with Canadian degrees, only 1 in 10 newly arrived immigrants with international education are overqualified for their jobs. This shows the underutilization of immigrants with international education. According to the 2006 census, international education remains a challenge to accredit.
Several industries are experiencing labor shortages, and the senior population is growing, which could result in this issue gaining attention. Due to the accreditation issue, Canadians are under-utilizing their foreign talent in high-demand sectors like healthcare, where qualified workers are in greater demand than ever.
A number of new initiatives have been launched by the IRCC to streamline accreditation for medical professionals with international training. As well as encourage them to gain experience in Canada’s healthcare system. Over $90 million has been committed to funding these initiatives.
