Highly Skilled Immigrants Leaving Canada at Alarming Rates
Did you know that highly skilled immigrants in Canada are leaving the country at rates that are double those of their less-educated peers? It might sound surprising, but recent research has highlighted a worrying trend in Canada’s immigration landscape. A new report from the Institute of Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada shows that immigrants with advanced degrees—think master’s and doctorates—are far more likely to move on from Canada compared to those with only a bachelor’s degree or less.
The data reveals that one in five immigrants eventually leaves Canada within their first 25 years here, and the likelihood is especially high during the first five years after arrival. The more educated an immigrant is, the more likely they are to depart. In fact, individuals with doctorates are nearly twice as likely to leave Canada within five years compared to those holding a bachelor’s degree. This trend is especially pronounced in fields like business and finance management, information and communications technology, engineering, architecture, and manufacturing. Even Canada’s health care sector, which is already struggling with staffing shortages, sees a high exit rate among highly skilled immigrants.
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Why are so many leaving? The report points to stagnant or declining incomes as a key factor. Highly skilled professionals, especially those with doctorates, often find that their qualifications aren’t fully recognized in Canada, and when career growth or income doesn’t match expectations, many decide to look elsewhere. Regions like Atlantic Canada are particularly affected, with more immigrants leaving from there than from other provinces. Interestingly, most immigrants who leave do so from the very province they first landed in, without exploring opportunities in other parts of the country.
The federal government is aware of the problem. Immigration Minister Lena Diab explained that Canada is working to balance sustainable immigration levels with labor market needs, particularly in sectors facing shortages such as health care. Measures like the $97 million Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund are being implemented to help foreign-trained professionals get their credentials recognized in Canada. The government is also developing an international talent attraction strategy aimed at helping employers recruit highly skilled workers faster in critical fields like health care, construction, emerging technology, and artificial intelligence.
Despite these efforts, the report makes it clear that Canada risks losing many of the very people it most needs—engineers, scientists, health care professionals, and senior managers—because systemic issues like income stagnation and credential recognition are not being adequately addressed. If Canada hopes to retain its highly skilled immigrant population, more robust strategies will be essential to ensure these talented individuals see Canada as a land of opportunity rather than a stepping stone to somewhere else.
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