Rayo received his master’s degree in business administration from the University of New Brunswick in 2018 and got a job in auditing that paid $ 45,000 a year. Having two degrees from the United States and Canada, Rayo says finding a job was difficult and the compensation offered was disappointing. “My problem was that I was offered basic jobs,” he said. “I do not know if it is because I am from another country.” With a wife and young son, Rayo says he made the savings to maintain the lifestyle he wanted for his family. Their situation eventually led Franco, 33, and his wife, Natalie Rayo, 29, to make a drastic change in their lives. About a year after the pandemic, the family of three packed their bags and headed to Nicaragua. While rising cost of living – with inflation soaring to 6.7 percent – is affecting all Canadians, the reality is that new immigrants are still earning less than the general population. Now, a recent study by Leger in collaboration with the Citizenship Institute of Canada suggests that pressure may prevent the retention of new immigrants. “Canada is telling itself a story that this is a newcomer paradise and we wanted to see how true that was,” said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Canadian Citizenship Institute (ICC).

Plans to leave

The federal government does not monitor the retention of immigrants, but according to Statistics Canada, 50 percent of international students did not have tax records one year after graduation, indicating that they have left the country. According to the ICC survey, 23 percent of young Canadians with a university degree said they planned to leave the country within the next two years. For young Canadians under the age of 35, that number was 30 percent. However, it is not clear how this compares to the intentions of previous years. The survey was conducted between February 24 and 28 with 2013 respondents using an online panel. Although an exact margin of error cannot be calculated, by comparison, a probability sample of 2000 respondents would have a margin of error ± 2.5%, 19 times 20. Rayo is now based in Managua with his family and has his own business, although he has retained his permanent residency in Canada. Natalie’s wife, who grew up in New Brunswick, says they enjoy a better quality of life than in Moncton, feeling less financially strapped. “I did not expect to move to Nicaragua, but when it came time for our future, my husband and I and my son, it was the best choice for us,” he said. At the national level, there are consequences if migrants choose not to stay. The country is facing a labor shortage, and policymakers hope immigration can help fill the gaps in the workforce – with plans to move more than 400,000 new migrants to permanent residents this year. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people aged 65 and over is growing six times faster than children aged 0 to 14, a finding that has a serious impact on the economy. CLOCKS Rising fears about the impact of Canada’s rapidly aging population:

Rising fears about the impact of Canada’s rapidly aging population

New census data show that Canada’s population is aging, raising concerns about the impact on the country’s workforce and long-term care system. 2:03

The cost of living will push migrants to leave, according to research

However, immigrants have historically reported employment challenges, with many being forced to work in low-skilled jobs despite their foreign credentials. According to Statistics Canada, the median income for immigrants admitted to Canada in 2018 was $ 31,900 a year later. Although this is the highest since 1981, it is still 18 percent lower than the median income of the general population. Now, new entrants are also facing an affordable housing crisis and high inflation, raising the question: how attractive is Canada to immigrants? Berhard said the findings should give Canadians a “pause.” “We have to ask ourselves what benefits Canada is providing to immigrants because we are in competition with the rest of the world,” he said. “People are not able to gain their true potential,” he said. “The standard of living they could reasonably expect or even have in their country is becoming less and less achievable.” In the survey, 64 percent of young Canadians agreed with the statement that “the rising cost of living in Canada means that immigrants are less likely to stay in Canada.” According to the Statistics Canada, 31 percent of recent immigrants spent more than 30 percent of their income on housing expenses, compared to only 18 percent of the general population.

There is not enough evidence to support immigrants

Economist Mikal Skuterud from the University of Waterloo says it is difficult to draw conclusions from the research due to the lack of data from previous years. He stressed the need for the federal government to monitor how many people are leaving the country and why they choose to leave, he said. “A huge part of the challenge for Canada and policymakers is not just to attract high-quality immigrants, but to retain them,” Skuterud said. The economist says there is a risk of losing the most highly skilled immigrants in the United States where wages may be more lucrative. However, Skuterud does not believe that the cost of living is likely to drive away migrants. CLOCKS Canada’s inflation rate jumps to 6.7% for the biggest jump since 1991:

Canada’s inflation jumped to 6.7% for the biggest jump since 1991

Inflation in Canada jumped to 6.7 percent in March, reaching a 31-year high. Economists warn that borrowers should expect further interest rate hikes as the Bank of Canada tries to curb rising inflation. 2:00 p.m.
“When people choose where to move or whether to move, what they do is assess their financial well-being in one place over another,” he said, adding that many countries around the world are also struggling with high inflation at the moment. “Immigration is very costly and inflation is a temporary phenomenon,” he said. “The idea that people will suddenly be uprooted to go somewhere else, I do not think is credible.”

Presentation of the experience of immigrants

When Manpreet Kaur and Harmeet Singh immigrated to Canada in 2018, the couple had a hard time finding information on how to navigate the country as new immigrants. This led them to start their own YouTube channel. “We thought of making a video and [sharing] “Our journey,” Singh said. Harmeet Singh, left, and Manpreet Kaur, right, immigrated to Canada in 2018. The couple has a YouTube channel called “Canada Couple Vlogs” where they delve into what life is like in Canada and how to navigate the immigration system. (Harmeet Singh)
The couple’s YouTube channel “Canadian Couple Vlogs” has over half a million subscribers and has videos on everything from how to move to Canada to what life is like after immigration. They even have a video on why immigrants choose to leave Canada. “No one shares their failures and no one shares the challenges they face in Canada,” Singh said. From cold winters to the cost of living, Singh said there are many challenges immigrants to Canada face that they need to be aware of before moving. Singh and Kaur were mentally prepared for some of these challenges, expecting to be hit financially in the beginning. Although the couple managed to find work within a few months of their arrival, Singh says the lack of Canadian work experience was an obstacle when he applied for a job. Fortunately, however, his experience of Walmart work from India helped him work with Walmart Canada, he said. Were it not for the couple’s work in the IT field and the YouTube channel that acted as a sideline, Singh says, “it would be very difficult.” Bernhard of the Citizenship Institute of Canada says there is no complete “assessment” of the skills and value of newcomers. And as many employers cite challenges in finding work, he says they need to improve on recognizing the skills that immigrants have to offer. “This is not just a moral or ethical imperative. It is also your competitive advantage in the market,” he said.