Canada’s reduced permanent resident target for 2025 will have lasting effects on population growth, labour supply, and regional development. Public support for immigration is at its lowest in decades, making it essential to rebuild trust in the system.
While the immigrant income gap has narrowed since 2021, progress requires stronger foreign credential recognition, better access to language and job-readiness programs, and sector-specific employment pathways. At the same time, fewer international students are transitioning to permanent residency—highlighting a misalignment between education, immigration, and retention strategies.
An important part of responsible population growth is welcoming greater numbers of French-speaking immigrants who can help support the growth of vibrant cultural Francophone communities across Canada.
In 2024, 30,550 French-speaking permanent residents were admitted outside Québec, representing 7.2% of total admissions. This exceeded the Government of Canada’s admission target of 6%.
Trending toward increased proportion of recent immigrants with French as their first official language spoken.
In 2024, 7.2% of permanent residents admitted outside Québec were French-speaking. While not directly comparable with 2021 Census figures (due to the inclusion of Québec), the general trend suggests that permanent residents with French language skills remains a small proportion of Canada’s overall share of permanent resident admissions. Without more focused and sustained efforts, Canada risks undermining the vitality of Francophone communities outside Québec and falling short of its broader linguistic and demographic commitments.
While temporary foreign workers help meet immediate labour market needs, long-term reliance on temporary status can undermine population growth, economic inclusion, and workforce stability. Canada’s long-term prosperity has historically depended on permanent immigration, which supports integration, rights protection, and demographic renewal. A balanced approach that prioritizes permanent pathways while addressing short-term gaps is essential for sustainable labour planning and equitable population growth.
There were 191,630 Temporary Foreign Worker permit holders and 717,405 International Mobility Program permit holders in Canada in 2024, making up 4.38% of Canada’s employed workforce (20,738,000 total workers).
Trending towards reduced reliance on temporary status for workers coming to Canada.
In 2024 IRCC calculated that there were 191,630 Temporary Foreign Worker permit holders and 717,405 International Mobility Program permit holders in Canada (4.38% of Canada’s workforce). This high volume of temporary admissions suggests continued reliance on non-permanent labour to meet workforce demands. Without a sustained shift toward permanent immigration pathways, Canada risks deepening structural dependence on temporary workers, weakening long-term integration outcomes and population stability.
International students are a vital source of skilled talent for Canada’s long-term economic and demographic growth. They contribute to communities across the country, support the sustainability of the post-secondary sector, and represent strong immigration candidates due to their existing integration, education, and Canadian work experience. Strengthening the transition from study permits to permanent residency helps align education, labour, and immigration systems, ensuring that Canada retains globally trained individuals who are already contributing to Canadian society.
Canada accepted 25,605 permanent residents who had previously been international students in 2023.
Trending toward increasing admissions of permanent residents who held study permits in the past.
The number of international students transitioning to permanent residency declined sharply in 2023, falling to 25,605 from 94,555 in 2022 and 157,290 in 2021. While 2022 reflected a one-time spike tied to COVID-era policy adjustments, the sustained decline points to growing barriers to long-term settlement, including stricter eligibility criteria, processing backlogs, and policy uncertainty. Given the strategic role international students play in supporting Canada’s labour force and demographic goals, this trend highlights a misalignment between education, immigration, and retention strategies that requires urgent attention.
The gap in income between newcomers and all Canadians is an indicator of integration for recent immigrants. It reflects whether newcomers are experiencing economic success in Canada and whether the economy is leveraging their talent and skills effectively.
In 2022 there was a difference of $2,880 in 2022 in the median total income between immigrants five years after arriving in 2017 ($44,500) and for all Canadians ($45,380).
Narrowing the income gap between immigrants five years after their arrival and all Canadians.
The income gap between immigrants and the Canadian-born population is narrowing. In 2022, immigrants five years after arrival earned a median total income of $44,500 compared to $45,380 for the overall population. This indicates that 5 years after arrival immigrants are earning 98% of the income of the Canadian-born population.
Transitions to citizenship reflect Canada’s ability to integrate immigrants, maintain a strong reputation, and grow well.
45.7% of permanent residents who arrived within the previous 10 years became citizens in 2021.
Increasing rate of citizenship acquisition among permanent residents.
Canada’s citizenship acquisition rate remains at 45.7% as of 2021, with no updated figures reported in 2024. This marks a sharp decline from historical norms where acquisition rates routinely exceeded 70 percent. As immigration continues to drive population growth over the coming decades, sustained low citizenship uptake could pose challenges to long-term integration, democratic participation, and population cohesion.
For future prosperity to be shared across the country, all provinces need to be able to retain immigrants, particularly where the need for workforce growth is higher due to population aging.
The average retention rate for immigrants who arrived five years earlier was 47% in 2023 in the five provinces with the lowest retention rates (Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan).
More even retention across Canada for immigrants five years after they arrive, with lowest retention rate provinces increasing rates to better align to the most recent average for all provinces of 64.75% (2023).
The gap between the average retention rate across all provinces and the retention rate of the provinces with the lowest retention rate was 17.75% in 2023. This is a significant decline from 2024, when the average retention rate among the five provinces with the lowest retention rates was 4.2% higher.
Public support for immigration is an essential condition for Canada to effectively attract and retain immigrants and strategically grow its immigration levels over time.
In 2024, 6 in 10 (58%) of Canadians agreed that there is too much immigration to Canada, including 32% who strongly agreed. This represents a 31-point increase in agreement since 2021.
Trending toward increased support for immigration levels.
For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, a clear majority of Canadians say there is too much immigration. This is the most rapid change over a two-year period since Focus Canada began asking this question in 1977 and reflects the largest proportion of Canadians who say there is too much immigration since 1998.
A strong global reputation can help attract talented immigrants to Canada, support investment and bolster global influence.
Canada ranked 6th in the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brand Index in 2024.
Top 5 countries in the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brand Index.
In 2024, Canada dropped 3 positions in the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brand Index. With this decline, Canada’s national brand dropped out of the targeted position among the top 5 countries and into 6th place. This represents the second year in a row that Canada’s ranking has lowered, which indicates that while Canada remains one of the more positively viewed countries internationally, that reputation is gradually shifting.
Immigration is a key pathway for Canada’s population to grow and is necessary for Canada’s long-term economic prosperity, diversity, resilience and global influence.
In 2025, Canada is projected to admit 395,000 permanent residents. 158,000 of these spots are reserved for temporary residents currently in Canada, so only 237,000 will be new arrivals (representing 0.57% of Canada’s population in 2025).
Immigrant admissions that represent 1.15% to 1.25% of the population annually over the next decade.
In October 2024, Canada significantly reduced its federal immigration targets. Accordingly, in 2025 only 237,000 new arrivals are expected to arrive in Canada on the path to permanent residency – a 49% decrease from the 468,817 permanent residents who were admitted in 2022/2023. This represents a significant reversal of Canada’s immigration policy trajectory and a major departure from the 1.15 – 1.25% target.
