World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
OPINION | Fixing Canada’s immigration system isn’t about cutting numbers—it’s about meeting the need (The Hub)
According to Adam Legge, Canada's immigration system must shift focus from solely adjusting intake numbers to strategically aligning immigration with the nation's long-term economic and demographic needs. Legge argues, immigrants have historically been integral to Canada's prosperity, contributing as engineers, innovators, and skilled tradespeople. However, public support for immigration has waned, not due to anti-immigrant sentiment, but because of perceptions that the current system is ineffective. An overhaul is needed; one that prioritizes the quality and integration of immigrants, enhances coordination between federal and provincial policy makers; towards ensuring that newcomers are able to successfully contribute socially and economically. This includes improving credential recognition, streamlining settlement services, and increasing investments in language learning supports. By doing so, Canada can restore public confidence and harness immigration as a tool for national prosperity.
Carney’s aim to cut immigration marred by undercounting of temporary migrants, economists warn (Globe & Mail)
Prime Minister Mark Carney's goal to reduce Canada's temporary migrant population to 5 percent of the total population by 2027 could be undermined by an undercounting of non-permanent residents, economists warn. While Carney's plan aims to ease pressure on housing, infrastructure, and social services, experts argue that official population estimates do not account for many temporary residents who remain in Canada after their visas expire. This includes undocumented migrants, who may number up to 600,000, and those with expired visas waiting for permanent residency or visa renewals. The current assumption that expired visa holders leave within 120 days is considered inaccurate by economists. Accurate data is essential for effective planning of housing and services. While Statistics Canada is working to refine its methods, critics suggest that reducing temporary residents should include stricter visa policies, such as enforcing “no-extension" measures on expired permits. Experts believe that adjusting immigration policies to reflect these realities is crucial for achieving the government's target.
Youth not in employment, education or training: Recent trends (Stats Canada)
The 2025 Statistics Canada report on youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET) highlights concerning trends, particularly among 20- to 29-year-olds. NEET rates rose notably in 2023-2024, with young men without a bachelor’s degree exiting the labour force and racialized youth from predominantly Black and Chinese populations facing disproportionate challenges to access and retention. While unemployment rose for young women, the data shows that increased school attendance partly offset this. Young immigrants with higher education are currently experiencing greater NEET rates than in previous years, regardless of where they studied. These trends reflect ongoing labour market disruptions following the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in youth-heavy industries like retail and hospitality. The report urges targeted policy responses, including re-engagement initiatives, expanded educational and training access for racialized and immigrant youth, and enhanced job stability programs. Monitoring NEET rates across demographics remains critical to addressing youth disconnection and supporting transitions into the workforce.
Foreign student asylum claims hit record high in 2024, set to grow in 2025 (Global News)
In 2024, Canada experienced a record surge in asylum claims from international students, with 20,245 claims from last year and this trend is projected to continue into 2025. Then Immigration Minister Marc Miller described the increase as alarming, noting that some students may be using humanitarian steams and study permits as a “backdoor entry into Canada,” with plans to remain permanently in the country. Newly released figures also demonstrate that 2025 could see an even greater increase in claims from foreign students. For the first three months of this year, international students filed 5,500 asylum claims, reflecting a 22 percent increase from the same period last year. The rise in claims has prompted discussions on improving screening and monitoring practices within educational institutions to address potential exploitation of the system.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Please take this short survey to help improve the KM4S web site. The survey is anonymous. Thank you for your feedback! (click on the screen anywhere (or on the x in the top right corner) to remove this pop-up)