Canada is welcoming 360,000 to 445,000 new permanent residents this year. As new immigrants settle in, what are newcomers prioritizing?

Career and a Career Path

Immigration is an essential wealth of talent for Canada’s persistent labour shortage, so is finding a job as high a priority as it was two decades ago? The answer is that it’s easier and still represents one of the most significant concerns for new immigrants coming to Canada. That makes sense. Achieving success in your career is vital to your future happiness.

Canada currently experiences a shortage of skilled labour, primarily in engineering, health care, and construction. According to the business development bank, 39% of hiring personnel found hiring reliable, skilled labour challenging. The data on finding a skilled job as a new immigrant is average. 76% find a job within six months, according to a world education study done by 6,400 skilled workers in 2018. Moreover, 80% of skilled immigrants polled are working in permanent positions.

With an inflow of new immigrants, the following chart shows labour solutions projections for 2026. Immigration may make up 45.2% of new workers in the Canadian job market by 2026.

Addressing labour shortages - Canada.ca

A Useful Educational Path

Practical education and training are necessary for all Canadians moving towards their career goals. If you already have foreign credentials, the foreign credential recognition program will expedite achieving a suitable job or even the position of your dreams.

The Foreign Credential Recognition Program offers loans and work placements for you to assist with the process and help you earn professional Canadian work experience. In addition, resources are available online and on the Canadian Government website. For example, the Canadian government offers a list of programs to prepare you for a career in Public Health. Careful analysis of the job market and required credentials before immigrating will assist in immigration success. It is good to keep in mind that Canadian employers value Canadian credentials. It’s valuable to attain these in Canada. Canadian Universities and colleges often offer programs to bring new immigrants into meaningful skilled employment. Some provide online programs you can study before you arrive.

Region, Neighbourhood and Housing

We are a sparsely populated country of 38 million with 15 ecosystems across 4,700 miles (7,560 km). Find a climate you will enjoy from the first day in Canada and look for housing ahead of time. Remember to find an apartment, condo, or house in a neighbourhood that fits your lifestyle and culture.

The city and neighbourhood you choose will affect your view of Canada.

People immigrating from a densely populated city may prefer to live in one of Canada’s larger urban centres like Toronto, with a population of 2,794,356 or Montreal, whose population is 1,704,694.

Smaller cities like Kitchener, Ontario (pop. 233,222) are popular for families raising children. 74,100 live in the small city of Airdrie, Alberta, which is close to Calgary, Alberta and offers many of the same amenities as Calgary.

Rural Canada, on the other hand, offers fewer amenities and a relaxed way of life. Immigrants from rural areas or villages may like the experience of living in a small town in Nova Scotia because, while employment is harder to find, the cost of owning a home is less.

Cultural Activities

The culture between the easy-going coastal people of the English west coast and the urban vibrance of French Quebec is dramatically unique. One common theme in Canada is in our shared holidays and festivals. Publicly funded events, festivals and concerts are an excellent source of free entertainment.

Many recommend volunteering to absorb more quickly into Canadian culture as it creates a sense of inclusion and reciprocity for your new neighbours. Volunteer activities can be fun. They may further your career goals, keep skills up to date, and offer a great way of giving back to your community.

A Canadian Bank Account, Social Insurance Number, Healthcare Card, and Drivers Licence.

Most immigrants will find that opening a bank account in Canada is simple. Call or go to your chosen branch and ask the teller to open an account for you. Canadian Banks require a social insurance number and two pieces of information from list A, or one from list A and one from list B.

List A

• Valid Canadian driver's licence (as permitted by provincial law)

• Current Canadian passport

• Birth certificate issued in Canada

• Social Insurance Number (SIN) card issued by the Government of Canada

• Old Age Security card issued by the Government of Canada

• Certificate of Indian Status

• Provincial or territorial health insurance card that can be used as ID under provincial or territorial law • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or Certification of Naturalization

• Permanent Resident card or an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) form IMM 1000, IMM 1442, or IMM 5292

• A document or card with your picture and signature on it issued by select authorities

List B

• Employee ID card with your picture on it that has been issued by an employer well known in your area

• A debit card or bank card with your name and signature on it

• Canadian credit card with your name and signature on it

• Client card from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind with your picture and signature on it

• Current foreign passport

You must visit a Canada Service Agency for your social insurance number, driver's license, and healthcare card. Once these arrive in the mail, you will have the appropriate identification to access the Canadian workforce and obtain benefits.

Labour shortage trends in Canada (statcan.gc.ca)

https://www.greentechresources.ca/canadian-immigration-challenges/

A Portrait of Early Settlement Experiences: Challenges to integration (statcan.gc.ca)

Labour shortage trends in Canada (statcan.gc.ca)

Immigration Issues in Canada (immigrationincanada.ca)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Departmental Plan 2022-2023 - Canada.ca

Labour Shortage in Canada: Here to stay – Study (bdc.ca)

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https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/canada#:~:text=From%20east%20to%20west%20it,percent%20of%20the%20world's%20population.