Immigration is a topic of fierce debate in many countries, however, Canadians have maintained strong support for both immigrants and immigration over the years.
Canada needs immigrants and has been steadily raising the country’s annual goals for Canadian immigration.
For example, the target for Canadian immigration is 465,000 new permanent residents during 2023; 485,000 in 2024; and 500,000 by the end of 2025.
Not only is Canada seeking record numbers of new immigrants, but immigrants from around the world are attracted to the many opportunities that are available in Canada.
This article will discuss why Canada needs immigrants and where new Canadian permanent residents are settling, so continue reading to learn the key information!
Table of Contents
Why Canada Needs Immigrants?
Canada needs immigrants for its economic and social development:
- Immigrants account for close to 100% of Canadian job growth and 80% of population growth.
- Millions of Canadians are retiring this decade and workers are needed to replace them.
- Canada has a low fertility rate and there are not enough workers entering the labor force.
- Many Canadian workers do not have the education or skills to meet labor market needs.
- Immigrants from different countries bring new ideas to Canada that contribute to innovation.
- Foreign entrepreneurs start many businesses in Canada which create Canadian jobs.
- Immigrants who work in Canada stimulate the economy by paying taxes, making purchases, etc.
- Canadian immigration contributes to cultural diversity in a country that embraces multiculturalism
Cities in Canada that Need Immigrants
Every province in Canada needs immigrants, including Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta.
There are thousands of Canadian job opportunities for skilled immigrants in construction, education, engineering, finance, healthcare, information technology, maintenance and repair, manufacturing, natural resources, science and other sectors.
Skilled immigrants with good English or French language abilities who have sufficient work experience in occupations categorized by the 2021 National Occupation Classification (NOC) as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 may be able to qualify for Express Entry immigration to Canada if they satisfy all of the criteria.
Some of the top cities in Canada that need immigrants include Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary.
These cities are great places to live in Canada in terms of quality of life, Canadian job openings, and the support available to immigrants to help them integrate into the community.
Toronto, Ontario
- Toronto is the largest and most populous city in Canada, with 6.3 million people living in the Greater Toronto Area.
- The economy is diverse, including finance, information technology, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and the arts.
- The Toronto area has the highest percentage (46.6%) of foreign-born residents of any major metro area in Canada.
- The constant influx of immigrants helps to maintain the multicultural environment of the Toronto area.
- In 2023, the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) named Toronto the #9 Most Livable City in the World.
Vancouver, British Columbia
- Vancouver has the third most populous metro area in Canada, with around 2.6 million residents.
- Vancouver has the second highest percentage (41.8%) of foreign-born residents of any major metro area in Canada.
- Known as Canada’s Gateway to the Pacific, Vancouver has a thriving economy, which includes the film and television industry, technology, construction, forestry, manufacturing and tourism.
- There is a high demand for skilled foreign workers in construction, engineering, information technology and healthcare.
- Vancouver is a beautiful city with a mild climate that offers amazing views of the ocean and nearby mountains.
- No wonder the EIU ranked Vancouver in 2023 as the #5 Most Livable City in the World!
Montreal, Quebec
- Montreal is Canada’s second most populous city, with about 4.3 million people living in the Montreal metro area.
- Around 24.3% of Montreal’s population was born outside of Canada.
- Although Montreal is located in French-speaking Quebec, it is a bilingual city with 69% knowing French and English.
- Montreal is one of Canada’s cultural centers, with many museums, artists, writers and its annual international jazz festival.
- The economy of Montreal is the second largest of any Canadian city, with key business sectors including aerospace, commerce, entertainment, information technology, pharmaceuticals, tourism, textiles, transportation and life sciences.
- Montreal is less expensive than Toronto and Vancouver, which makes it an attractive destination for new immigrants.
- French-speaking immigrants are wanted to contribute to the economy, culture and society of Montreal and Quebec.
Calgary, Alberta
- Calgary has Canada’s 4th most-populous metro area with around 1.6 million people.
- Approximately 31.5% of Calgary’s population was foreign-born, making it a rather diverse city.
- There is a strong economy in Calgary, with the largest sectors including oil and gas, finance, technology, aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing and transportation.
- Calgary needs professionals in energy, engineering, construction, finance, healthcare and other sectors.
- The City of Calgary has many parks, including Fish Creek Provincial Park, and the Bow River flows through the city.
- As Canada’s Gateway to the Canadian Rockies, Calgary is a short drive from the beautiful Bow Valley and Banff National Park, offering many outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, rafting, horseback riding, camping, fishing, snow skiing, etc.
- There is a high quality of life in Calgary, relatively low taxes, plenty of sunshine (average of 333 sunny days per year) and the city was named by the EIU as the #7 Most Livable City in the World for 2023.
Conclusion
The reason why Canada needs immigrants is to fill thousands of Canadian job openings and more generally contribute to Canada’s economy, society and culture.
On the other hand, immigrants are attracted to Canada, because it offers a high quality of life, good-paying jobs, free or subsidized public healthcare, world-class education, and it is a beautiful, immigrant-friendly country.
Toronto is the city in Canada with the most immigrants, however, large numbers of immigrants also live in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and other cities where there are many job openings available.
In general, immigrants are needed in almost every city and town across Canada, because there is an ongoing shortage of skilled workers.
Millions of “baby boomers” are retiring this decade and not enough Canadians are gaining the skills that employers are looking for, so immigrants are in high demand and have great opportunities to work in Canada.
In order to live and work in Canada as a skilled immigrant, you will generally need to be approved for a work permit or Canadian permanent residency.
Over 450,000 immigrants become Canadian permanent residents each year through various immigration programs, each of which has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure.
Canadian Visa Expert consultants can evaluate your eligibility for immigration to Canada and also guide you through each step of the application procedure if you qualify.
Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
Why does Canada need immigrants?
The reason Canada needs immigrants is that it has hundreds of thousands of job openings, but not enough qualified workers to fill them all. Immigrants account for almost 100% of Canadian job growth, 80% of population growth and are needed to contribute to the country’s economy, society and culture. Canada needs immigrants because they stimulate the economy by paying taxes, making purchases, starting businesses, creating new Canadian jobs and promoting innovation.
Which cities in Canada have a high demand for immigrants?
There is generally a high demand for immigrants in most Canadian cities and towns due to an ongoing skilled worker shortage; however, immigrants are particularly needed to fill job vacancies in the Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary metro areas.
What are the economic opportunities and job markets like in these cities?
There are excellent economic opportunities in the Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary metro areas, where the job markets remain strong. Montreal had the lowest unemployment rate of these four major cities, followed by Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary (June 2023). Skilled workers are needed for jobs in construction, engineering, healthcare, technology, finance and other sectors.
How can I find a job in Canada after immigrating?
A good place to start is with the Canadian government’s Job Bank website, where you can search for jobs in Canada by occupation, province, city, etc. It may also be helpful to create a LinkedIn online profile to market yourself and your skills to employers in the Canadian job market.
What makes Montreal, Quebec, a city in need of immigrants?
Montreal is a city in need of immigrants, because it has a growing economy, low unemployment rate and shortage of skilled workers. Therefore, skilled foreign workers can find good Canadian job opportunities in Montreal, which is also a bilingual city where most people speak both French and English. The mostly French-speaking province of Quebec has its own immigration programs, in coordination with the Canadian immigration authorities, such as the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program.
