According to the Business Council of Canada, more immigration is essential for Canada's economy.

In a recent research published by the Business Council of Canada (BCC), 80 Canadian businesses were asked how they use the country's immigration systems to hire talented individuals. Over 1.6 million people are employed collectively by the surveyed companies. According to a survey, two thirds of businesses claim to use Canada's immigration system to find talent elsewhere. Hiring immigrants who have already moved to Canada makes up the remaining third.

Canada makes a lot of effort to present itself as the ideal destination for the world's top talent in all fields.

In a recent research published by the Business Council of Canada (BCC), 80 Canadian businesses were asked how they use the country's immigration systems to hire talented individuals. Over 1.6 million people are employed collectively by the surveyed companies. According to a survey, two thirds of businesses claim to use Canada's immigration system to find talent elsewhere. Hiring immigrants who have already moved to Canada makes up the remaining third.

By 2024, the Immigration Levels Plan for Canada 2022–2024 aims to accept more than 450 000 new permanent residents annually. Numerous work permit and economic class immigration routes are available in Canada.

High unemployment rates and an expanding labour shortage

According to the BCC study, all employers concur that there is a severe labour shortage in Canada and that it is extremely difficult for them to recruit talented personnel in all sectors. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia all have severe labour shortages.

Canada's computer industry has been severely hurt by a lack of competent personnel since demand and industry development are surpassing the supply. Engineering, computer science, and information technology are in high demand.

This has been a persistent problem for a while. Candidates for permanent residency with experience in these fields were among the most likely to be extended an invitation to apply, according to the 2020 Express Entry annual report (ITA).

leading programmes used by Canadian businesses
To hire foreign talent, employers primarily use the Global Talent Stream, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Short-Term Work Permits

Global Talent Stream: The Temporary Foreign Worker Program's (TFWP) Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a temporary work permit (TFWP). It is intended to satisfy the urgent needs of the quickly expanding tech sector and is only open to individuals with job experience in tech-related occupations.

Businesses must complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP) and submit them to Employment and Social Development Canada in order to be granted a work permit under the GTS (ESDC). The applicant they wish to hire must submit their work permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada when they have heard back, whether it was favourable or neutral (IRCC).

Programs for Express Entry

The largest admission track for skilled immigrants seeking permanent residence in Canada is called Express Entry.

Candidates with technical backgrounds are more likely to be invited to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry.

The purpose of Express Entry is to speed up the application process for skilled workers. The Federal Skilled Worker Program is the most well-liked Express Entry choice (FSWP). This programme is intended for those who have at least one year of experience in a job that comes under NOC 0, A, or B, which describes the majority of jobs in the tech sector.

Federal Skilled Worker Program: Candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program must meet a minimum requirement of one year of skilled work experience, a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 and satisfy the minimum educational requirements for their occupation by getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

Canadian Experience Class: Under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), candidates must have one year of Canadian work experience completed in the past five years, as well as meet minimum language requirements depending on where their occupation falls in the NOC skill codes.

Improvements

Only fifty percent of those surveyed concur that the Immigration Levels Plan for 2022–2024 is sufficient to meet their business demands and the escalating labour shortages. The other half accepted the need for an increase in economic immigration but understood that doing so would not be feasible unless the government had a strategy in place to guarantee there was enough housing and other infrastructure to serve new immigrants, such as childcare and healthcare.

Employers think they can aid in the integration of immigrants. This can be done by providing staff with language instruction, help them get their foreign credentials recognised, and relocation support.

Take out

The percentage of respondents who think the existing immigration system is effective for their needs is less than a quarter. The main obstacles to employing more talent from outside, according to them, are drawn-out application processes and lengthy processing timeframes.

Businesses in Canada anticipate a rise in competition for talented immigrants over the next years. This is especially true for recent graduates, who claim that because it takes so long to accumulate enough work experience, they face considerable obstacles in getting permanent status in Canada.