Canada is losing the highly skilled immigrants it needs most, according to new data released today by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
“Canada’s most capable immigrants are, in fact, most likely to leave,” said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship in a press conference.
The numbers are stark: while the overall five-year departure rate for permanent immigrants sits at about 5%, it jumps to 11% for those with PhDs. It gets worse for the professions Canada desperately needs.
“Of the 16 most in-demand professions, 10 have retention rates that are below average, effectively reducing the contribution period for these people,” Bernhard said.
Among the hardest hit:
Health care workers: 36% leave within five years
Scientists: 36% departure rate
Experienced executives: 19% departure rate — nearly four times the national average
“Software developers, AI and cybersecurity professionals, managers in finance, engineering, architecture — the very people who can help Canada build the economy and infrastructure and housing of the future — all leave at above-average rates,” Bernhard warned.
The Institute’s findings paint a picture of a brain drain in the fields Canada says it needs.
Over the ten-year period from mid-2014 to mid-2024, approximately 800,000 people emigrated from Canada, according to data compiled by Statistics Canada. Annual emigration fluctuated during this decade, reflecting economic conditions, global opportunities, and domestic challenges.
The numbers remained relatively stable at 60,000–80,000 per year from 2015 to 2019, dipped sharply to around 40,000 annually during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 due to border closures and travel restrictions, and then rose steadily afterward, reaching an estimated 100,000 in 2024 — the highest level in decades.
This post-pandemic surge has pushed total emigration for the decade to roughly 800,000 individuals. While Canada continues to experience net population growth through immigration, the accelerating pace of departures, particularly among highly skilled professionals, has raised concerns about brain drain and long-term economic competitiveness.