According to Statistic Canada’s 2016 Census Data, Almost 22 per cent of Canadians Are Immigrants
As Canada’s history shows, immigration numbers fluctuate throughout the years. Almost a century ago, the portion of immigrants in Canada’s population was higher than it was in 2016. In fact, Canada’s last peak was 1921, with numbers unmatched in the nearly 100 years since.
At least, until now.
Economic and social factors both in Canada and around the globe influence immigration rates. And as recent years have shown, Canada is more reliant on economic immigration than before due to the aging population and labour shortages in various industries and regions. For more information on economic immigration and becoming a permanent resident, contact an immigration lawyer in Canada.
2016 CENSUS DATA
Statistics Canada recently released a data set from the 2016 Canadian census with regards to immigration, Indigenous people, ethno-cultural diversity, and housing. According to the results, the percentage of immigrants in Canada has reached its highest level since 1921.
Based on this data from the 2016 census, 21.9 per cent of Canadians reported being or having been an immigrant or permanent resident. This is up from 19.8 per cent since the 2006 census. The portion of immigrants in Canada in 2016 is equivalent to 1931’s percentage, and just under 1921’s number, which was 22.3 per cent.
At this rate of immigration population growth, Statistics Canada estimates that the percentage of immigrants living in Canada could be as high as 30 per cent by 2036.
ECONOMIC IMMIGRATION
Census data also reveals that Canada welcomed 1.2 million newcomers between 2011 and 2016. The majority (60.3 per cent) of these newcomers were economic immigrants. Half of these economic immigrants were accepted through the skilled workers program.
The number of immigrants settling in Ontario is down from 55.9 per cent in 2001 to 39 per cent in 2016. And while 56 per cent of immigrants live in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, many immigrants are now settling in western provinces. This is partially due to participation in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which targets skilled workers to fill workforce positions.
REGIONAL BENEFITS
Provinces who are losing working-age populations to other provinces benefit greatly from the PNP. By fulfilling labour shortages, these regions are able to revive their economies. And within the next 10 to 15 years, labour shortages will be more widespread across Canada as Baby Boomers leave the workforce. Without economic immigration, Canada faces a short supply of skilled workers, resulting in a slow or declining economy.
To participate in a Canadian skilled workers program, contact an immigration lawyer in Canada for help with the application process.
Share this article
Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.