Navigating Immigration Dynamics: Statistics on Immigrant Departures from Canada
A recent study from Statistics Canada sheds light on the immigration landscape, revealing that over 15% of individuals who arrived in Canada between 1982 and 2017 chose to leave the country within two decades of their admission. These findings emerge amidst ongoing debates about Canada’s immigration policies, with calls to reassess entry levels and considerations about the integration experiences of newcomers.
The study underscores that the likelihood of immigrants leaving peaks in the initial years following admission, particularly between three to seven years after arrival. During this period, the probability reaches about 1.4%, gradually tapering off to 0.6-0.7% after 15 years. Julien Berard-Chagnon, a demographer with Statistics Canada, suggests that factors influencing departure may include the adaptation period to Canadian society, job search, housing, and acclimating to the climate.
RBC economist Claire Fan finds the departure rate surprising, emphasizing that individuals who obtain residency or citizenship are presumed to have an intention to stay. Productivity of the labor force and the satisfaction of newcomers with their living conditions play pivotal roles in their decision to remain in Canada.
Interestingly, the data reveals variations in emigration patterns based on the decade of admission. Those arriving in the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s exhibit a higher likelihood of leaving, with slightly more than 15% departing within 20 years. In contrast, immigrants since 2000 show a reduced tendency to emigrate, with nearly 5% leaving within five years and 10% within a decade.
Berard-Chagnon speculates that historical contexts, such as the ’90s brain drain phenomenon, may contribute to these fluctuations. During that period, specialized workers left Canada for higher wages in the U.S. The study prompts a nuanced exploration of the reasons behind immigration patterns and the evolving dynamics shaping the experiences of those who choose to call Canada their home.
