Immigration as a Key Economic Driver: Highlights from the Roundtable with the IOM and Canadian Business Leaders

We were honoured to host a roundtable at the end of June with a delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that included Director General Amy Pope and Deputy Director General for Operations Ugochi Daniels. Members of the Canadian Chamber Network, as well as representatives from Canadian employers and industry associations, joined us in-person and virtually to discuss how we can better align immigration with Canada’s current labour market and economic realities.

Canada has a long tradition of being multicultural and immigration is a key driver of our country’s economic growth. But in the past couple of years, the public perception of immigration in Canada has shifted dramatically. A recent survey by the Association of Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute found that 50% of Canadians think that too many immigrants are coming into the country.

This negative perception is unlikely to change unless Canada’s approach to immigration policy addresses the realities of today’s labour market and of the future economy too, while also considering the needs of immigrants, communities and businesses.

Insights from the Roundtable

A broad range of topics were discussed during the roundtable, with participants providing their unique experiences and perspectives on everything from temporary foreign workers to jurisdictional barriers.

Collaboration Among Stakeholders

Better collaboration among stakeholders who are currently working in silos is critical. All levels of government need to work in closer alignment while also proactively involving local communities and employers in program design, implementation and assessment.

Aligning Immigration with Labour Market Needs

Canada is built on immigration and has greatly benefited from the contributions of migrant workers. Amid demographic shifts, including low birth rates and imminent record retirements, today’s labour challenges and skills gaps will continue to grow and impact every Canadian’s wellbeing. The solution is ensuring better alignment between the skills, education and certifications that immigrants bring into the country and the current and future demands of the labour market. As part of this, improved skills assessment and expedited foreign credential recognition are necessary to ensure immigrants successfully integrate into the labour market and can meaningfully contribute to the economy right away.

Sector and Region-Specific Solutions

Our economy needs high- and low-skilled labour to operate and grow. However, creating more beneficial and efficient labour pathways requires careful examination of each sector or region’s challenges and needs. For instance, ttemporary foreign workers are indispensable for some sectors of the economy, including agriculture, construction, tourism and food manufacturing.

We need to do a better job of supporting immigration to rural communities that face persistent labour challenges and skills gaps. Small and medium-sized businesses also require better support to address their talent needs and leverage the economic potential of immigration.

Did you know Canada was one of the founding members of IOM? Learn more about the work of the IOM and IOM Canada.