How smaller cities can integrate newcomers into their labour markets
Resource Details
Author(s): Mary Crea-Arsenio, Andrea Baumann, Bruce Newbold, Margaret Walton-Roberts
Date: May 28, 2023
In 2022, Canada’s population grew by a million people. Nearly all this growth — a whopping 96 per cent — came from immigration.
That’s one million new people who need housing, education, health care and employment. The last time Canada saw such a level of growth was 1957, during the post-war baby boom. […]
There is no disputing that our existing labour supply is being diminished by economic growth, aging populations and a low birth rate. In 1980, for every one retiree there were six workers. By 2036, there will be only three workers for every retiree.
Canada’s response has been to boost immigration levels significantly. For that to be effective, we need integration policies that support skilled newcomers and a well-funded settlement sector that can keep pace with the entry of newcomers across all cities – large and small.
We also need governments to invest in better infrastructure, including housing and improved health care capacity.
Smaller urban communities can help by taking pressure off the most heavily populated regions. With better alignment between policy and reality, immigrant employment experiences can improve over time.
That’s one million new people who need housing, education, health care and employment. The last time Canada saw such a level of growth was 1957, during the post-war baby boom. […]
There is no disputing that our existing labour supply is being diminished by economic growth, aging populations and a low birth rate. In 1980, for every one retiree there were six workers. By 2036, there will be only three workers for every retiree.
Canada’s response has been to boost immigration levels significantly. For that to be effective, we need integration policies that support skilled newcomers and a well-funded settlement sector that can keep pace with the entry of newcomers across all cities – large and small.
We also need governments to invest in better infrastructure, including housing and improved health care capacity.
Smaller urban communities can help by taking pressure off the most heavily populated regions. With better alignment between policy and reality, immigrant employment experiences can improve over time.