The latest Survey of Statistics Canada compares the Outcomes for STEM immigrants in Canada and the U.S.
Statistics Canada recently conducted a study in which the economic outcomes of STEM-educated immigrants were compared for Canada and the U.S. There are a significant number of immigrants in both Canada and the U.S. who are in the age bracket of 25 to 64 and have a minimum education of STEM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics - field. The qualitative survey is based on data from 2016 in Canada and U.S. data from 2015 to 2017.
In both countries, the immigrants gained more STEM education than the Natives, but the people from the U.S. saw better outcomes in general. However, in both countries, more than half of the STEM-educated immigrants held non-STEM jobs. The STEM skills are highly accounted for, but it becomes an issue when STEM-educated immigrants work for jobs for which they didn’t train in a University. In Canada, the ratio of such people is 20%, and in U.S. the ration is 48%.
In all, the STEM-educated workers earned 25 percent less than the earned 25 percent less than their Canadian, but there was no such difference found in immigrants and U.S.-born workers' earnings. Hence, the US remains the first choice for many high-skilled immigrants.
Still, there is a higher percentage of STEM - educated workforce in Canada as compared to the U.S. This percentage saw a significant jump in the 1990s in line with the high-tech boom and has maintained a high number since then. When there are many workers, then employers tend to hire STEM workers that they are familiar with and who have work experience from economies similar to Canada.
Canada has a points-based immigration system for skilled workers, which has been in effect since the 1960s. In present times, the Express Entry system is the most popular pathway. The applicants are ranked based on education level, work experience, age, and language skills. In the CRS calculation, the highest-scoring candidates receive the ITA. Those with a job offer can avail of extra points.
Canadian employers can play a large role in immigrations with the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) compared to the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The STEM-educated applicants who relocate through the CEC settle well in Canada.
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