One of the most significant factors that determine if immigrants will leave or stay in Nova Scotia is the availability of job opportunities.
For the period between 2011 and 2018, around 46 percent of the immigrants had left Nova Scotia due to insufficient employment opportunities, as reported. Various possibilities related to lack of job opportunities include difficulty finding a suitable job opportunity or finding a job opportunity relevant to the work experience and training.
On October 23, 2020, a research project report was authored by Ather Akbari (Saint Mary’s University) for the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration. The data shared in this research report was based on a survey of 2,815 immigrants who were staying, staying, or leaving the province of Nova Scotia.
The report showed that nearly 74 percent who immigrated to the province for the duration between 2011-2018 were still residing in the province. Moreover, as per the intention demonstrated by the respondents during the survey, Ather mentioned there is a possibility that an additional 10% of immigrants can leave the province in the following five years, as 26% of the immigrants had already left the province.
The major reasons shared by the respondents for leaving the province were:
- To seek better employment opportunities,
- For higher wages and lower taxes,
- To avail better healthcare facilities, and
- A few immigrants also reported discrimination faced in their workplace.
Furthermore, the data showed that the majority of the immigrants who left the province were younger and possibly unmarried. Also, they had the same education level compared to those who had stayed in the province. However, the gender composition of the immigrants who had left and stayed was the same, about 54 percent male.
Factors affecting the choice of destination
There are multiple economic and non-economic factors that affect an immigrant’s choice to pick the immigration destination. Over 40 percent of immigrants consider the availability of employment opportunities for themselves and their spouses and the cost of living as major factors when making the destination choice.
On the other hand, the rest 60 percent, give more weightage to social factors while making their decision. Various social factors include quality of life, a good place to raise children, and safe and welcoming communities.
During the survey, when the respondents were asked to rank these factors based on the importance of choosing the destination, the majority picked employment opportunities, life quality, and safe and welcoming communities.
Suggestions for policymakers to hold on to the immigrants
Based on the observations during the study, the report suggested that the province should prioritize economic immigrants who arrived in the province with their families. The economic class immigrants had a lower retention rate compared to the refugee and family classes.
The report recognized the importance of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, considering employer involvement as an essential step for the settlement and integration of the newcomers in the province.
Lastly, the report recommended different initiatives should be taken to promote volunteering, sports, and recreation activities, which can help the province to enhance the living satisfaction of the immigrants and their families in Nova Scotia.
