The role of immigration across various Canadian sectors is somewhat crucial due to the existing grave challenges of the Canadian labor force market. In short, Canada ardently requires immigrants to come to the country in order to combat these challenges.
Statistics Canada claims immigrants must contribute significantly across various sectors of the Canadian economy. From May 2021 onwards, immigrants between 25 and 54 depicted the following:
- More than 36 percent of individuals working in the accommodation and food services sector.
- Around 38 percent of people work in the transportation and warehousing sector.
- More than 34 percent of individuals work in professional, technical, and scientific sectors.
- Above 20 percent of individuals working in the construction industry.
Immigrants so far have strongly influenced various sectors like healthcare, the food service sector, business, arts and culture, and science and technology.
The role of immigration across various Canadian sectors
Below is the breakdown of the impact of immigration on each of these sectors.
Healthcare Sector
Over 1.6 million individuals work in the Canadian healthcare sector. Nearly 50 percent of these workers are older than 55. In addition, a majority of the individuals will fall under the retired category in the next ten years. Furthermore, Canada is also facing several other challenges related to recruiting nurses, home health care staff, and residential care staff.
Hence, immigrants will have a crucial role to play in ensuring that adequate individuals are working in this specific sector.
Every 1 out of 4 workers in the healthcare sector is an immigrant. In this country, newcomers or immigrants contribute to the following:
- Registered Nurses – 23 percent
- Nurse Aides and Associated Professions – 35 percent
- Pharmacists – 37 percent
- Physicians – 36 percent
- Dentists – 39 percent
- Dental Technologists and Associated Occupations – 54 percent
Business Sector
The Canadian business sector typically employs more than twelve million individuals. Over 2.7 million people in Canada are self-employed, whereas more than 800,000 are paid employees. Entrepreneurs play a vital role in the business sector as well as the Canadian economy. Immigrant entrepreneurs and business leaders have a crucial role in Canada with the help of a growing and flourishing economy.
Immigrants contribute to at least 33 percent of the business owners with paid staff. As a result, these vacancies create more room for people who work in professional services, retail trades, healthcare, and the construction sector.
There are over 600,000 self-employed newcomers in Canada. In addition, more than 260,000 of them have paid workers.
Furthermore, over 47,000 new immigrants working in senior management positions across Canada include the following:
- More than 15,000 people work in the finance, communications, and business service sectors.
- 12,000 individuals are working in the trade, broadcasting, and other services.
- Over 12,000 workers are involved in construction, transportation, production, and utilities.
The following is the breakdown of the sectors with business owners who are immigrants:
- 30 percent – Software Publishers
- 36 percent – Dentist Offices
- 40 percent – Data processing, hosting, and services
- 50 percent – Restaurants
- 51 percent – Computer Systems Design and Services
- 53 percent – Grocery Stores
- 56 percent – Truck Transportation
Arts and Culture
Canadian art and culture are full of liveliness, and immigrants have been playing a vital role in its growth. Interestingly, more than 80,000 newcomers are occupied in the technical and professional professions across Canada’s arts and culture.
For instance, every 1 in 4 people working as an artisan or craftsperson in the country is an immigrant. In addition, 26 percent of total immigrants are working in the fashion and exhibit sectors and as creative designers. Furthermore, 29 percent of immigrants work as independent artists, writers, and performers.
Overall, immigrants own more than 3,000 businesses in the arts and cultural sector.
Science and Technology
Canada has a worldwide reputation for inviting talent from several countries across the globe to progress in the science and technology sector. Presently, this country ardently requires workers in the tech sector due to an acute shortage. Also, immigrants are making complete use of this opportunity to establish themselves in the country.
Notably, 34 percent of workers in the scientific research and development sectors in the country are born in foreign countries.
Furthermore, 500,000 newcomers in Canada have received training in the STEM professions. Besides, immigrants contribute to nearly 24 percent of the national workforce. They account for the following:
- 24 percent of the national workforce
- 41 percent of engineers
- 50 percent of chemists
Also, international students contribute 12 percent of those in post-secondary education. Besides, international students also represent 27 percent of those studying in programs: Mathematics, Information Science, and Computer. They also reflect 9 percent of students in architecture, engineering, and other associated programs.
The role of immigration across the Food Services sector in Canada
The food industry in Canada is one of the chief employers. Moreover, there are 1.16 million workers in this field. However, from September 2019 onwards, more than 67,000 jobs have remained vacant in the food services industry. This is in contrast with any of the other primary fields in Canada’s economy.
Besides, over 1 in every 4 workers is an immigrant within the food and beverages sector. Those workers who came to Canada between 2011 and 2016 turned out to be 11 percent of the total working newcomers in the food and beverages sector. This sector emerged as the chief employer of new immigrants who arrived at that time.
Across Canada, immigrants contribute to over 53 percent of all business owners having paid employees in the food and beverage industry.
Additionally, newcomers are assisting the food and services sector in progressing. In 2016, over 3,200 newcomers across Canada had a food and beverage business. The role of immigration across various Canadian sectors, like the food services sector, is essential for the Canadian economy’s growth.
Do you have any queries on Canadian immigration? Get in touch with our immigration representatives at MakeHomeCanada by writing to us at [email protected].
