b'IMMIGRATIONPLUGGING THE LEAKY BUCKETBy Matthew BradfordSkilled immigrants are leaving Canada, but we can turn the tideB ringing skilled talent into tion points to a missing piece in our immi- CHALLENGESCanada is no small feat. Neither gration puzzle. There are several reasons immigrants are is convincing them to stay.choosing to take their talents elsewhere. While a lot of effort is focusedICC has launched several research initia- In a previous ICC study, The Newcomer on bringing in newcomers to fill domestictives to shed more light on this growingPerspective: Why Immigrants Are Looking labour gaps, research suggests that Canadaissue. Its latest, in collaboration with theto Leave, the top reason immigrants faces a quieter challenge: addressingConference Board of Canada, is the Leakyconsider moving is housing costs, with the slow but steady stream of economicBucket 2024 report. The study found thatnearly eight in 10 newcomers (79 per cent) immigrants choosing to give up on theirone in five immigrants is likely to leavereporting that access to affordable housing Canadian dream. within 25 years of arriving, and morehas been worse than expected. In second than a third of those will leave within theplace is low salaries, with 65 per cent Theres a term for this: onward migra- first five years. This is not a new trend,saying their income doesn\'t reflect their tion. It describes the trend of immigrantseither, as immigrants who arrived sinceeducation or experience; and the third leaving Canada not long after settling, and1982 have been leaving at a rate of 0.9reason is waning optimism about Canada\'s its an issue that Daniel Bernhard and hisper cent per year. "That may seem small,future, cited by more than half of the team at the Institute of Canadian Citizen- but it\'s the highest rate on record, and it\'sstudy\'s respondents (54 per cent). ship (ICC) have been investigating. Whenbeen climbing quietly for decades," says I started this job, people kept asking howBernhard. "It\'s not a crisis yet, but it\'s aThese have been traditionally challenging many immigrants were coming but notconcerning trend." issues for Canadian immigrants. However, how many were staying, says Bernhard.Bernhard argues these factors matter even Thats when we realized we needed toA "leaky bucket" is an apt metaphor formore to the types of skilled individuals find out.this developing challenge. Left unchecked,being brought in from foreign destinations. even a slow drip of international talentWhile Canada once drew skilled immi-Like in business, Bernhard continues,leaving the country adds up. Withgrants into mid-level roles, a large portion recruitment is just the start. Retentionemployers across Canada struggling toof newcomers are now arriving with matters too, and the fact that Canada isfind talent, it is becoming increasinglyadvanced degrees, global work experience, experiencing an uptick in onward migra- important to plug the leak.and executive-level skills. Many also come 20PERSPECTIVESFall 2025'